Scottish Ambulance Service Community Resilience

09/02/2026

Incredible effort from everyone involved, well done!👏🏼

06/02/2026

Thank you to all of our volunteer community responders for your incredible dedication 👏

A spotlight on the figures that made up our emergency response in January
Great work from all our teams across Scotland 💚

27/01/2026

Another shout out and Greatix to yet another CFR. Aled Smith who turned up to a patient in a tractor during the recent storms in Aberdeenshire. Thank you and all CFRs who continue to respond during what has been a stormy January all over Scotland.

26/01/2026

When someone gives or witnesses CPR, it can leave a lasting impact - even long after
the event.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland's free, confidential Advice Line offers support to help
people process what they’ve been through – whether it happened yesterday or years
ago.

Call freephone 0808 801 0899, text ADVICE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk
chss.org.uk/provided-cpr

26/01/2026

Well done to all those volunteers who recently received a Scottish Ambulance Service Greatix for going beyond their volunteer duties as CFRs.

Congratulations to the following CFRs Jim Brand, Fabio Greatbatch, Ben sharp and David Wood.

Also to Sarah McGillivray NHS Grampian at Wood End Hospital who made sure we had a training venue for new CFRs despite various storms flooding multiple venues.

Thanks from all at the Community Resilience Team.

21/01/2026

Well done Sandy, one of our Community Responders from Duns👏🏼

This we are spotlighting Duns Community First Responder, Sandy Tweedie.

Sandy was recognised by a SAS team member for his exceptional teamwork and commitment to patient care. Great work 💚

16/01/2026

Superstars ⭐️

Last September, Symington Community Council very kindly awarded us £450 which has allowed us to purchase training equipment to support learning in Schools. 💰

Babs Muir, our Committee Fundraiser said,
“We are delighted that once again Symington Community Council have chosen to support us with our project. This money has provided our team with new training equipment which has already made an appearance at both Schools and Youth Groups within our response area.”

Our Scheme Coordinator and Chair, Jamie French explained that “The equipment purchased will allow us to train children and young adults giving them the opportunity to learn life-saving skills they’ll remember forever.
Engagement with the children and young adults of our communities is extremely important, it empowers them to save lives by providing immediate help during cardiac emergencies, significantly boosting out of hospital cardiac arrest survival rates. Our training builds confidence, allows the fostering of community responsibility, whilst preparing them to act quickly and responsibly at school, in public, or at home where most Cardiac Arrests occur.”

Pictured are 4 of our Community & Cardiac First Responders, Charlotte, Fraser, David & Danielle. 💚
Resuscitation Council UK Scottish Ambulance Service Scottish Ambulance Service Community Resilience Save A Life For Scotland

07/01/2026

Date for the diary 🗓️⬇️

📣 SAVE the DATE 🚨
Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium 2026 is coming back to Edinburgh on 21st May 2026
Save the date and don't miss out 🙌
venue and tickets info 👉 https://www.scas.scot/

25/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Merry Christmas from the Community Resilience Team

Well that’s a wrap on our “Responders Unwrapped: Christmas Countdown”. We hope you have enjoyed reading about all the fantastic work & efforts our volunteers put in day in, and day out. Maybe you’ve recognised a few faces in some photos- we encourage you to reach out to each other & within your communities and continue the fantastic work that’s ongoing.

From all of us in the Community Resilience Team, a huge THANK YOU for everything you do, we simply couldn’t do it without you.

Wishing all our volunteers & their families a wonderful, peaceful festive season.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,

Community Resilience Team

24/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 7- At the Heart of Their Communities

Our Community Responders aren’t just answering calls- they’re an integral part of the places they live. Every response, every training session, and every conversation builds trust and resilience.

Working alongside our colleagues from the emergency services, universities, St John’s Scotland and initiatives such as Save a Life for Scotland, & Restart a Heart Day, we share a common vision:

✅ Keeping people safe
✅ Empowering others with life-saving skills
✅ Building stronger, more prepared communities

Together, we can create a network of care that reaches every corner of Scotland- making sure support and life saving skills & equipment are never far away.

23/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 6- Community Resilience Team Volunteers

We support two types of volunteer responders:

First up, our Community First Responders (CFRs). Dispatched by ambulance control, CFRs often arrive before an ambulance to provide life-saving care in the first critical minutes. From cardiac arrests and strokes to breathing difficulties and severe allergic reactions, they act fast with the right skills and equipment. They also update ambulance control on patient condition, helping prioritise urgent responses. Quick thinking, skilled care, and local knowledge- CFRs make a real difference every day.

Next we have our Community Cardiac Responders (CCRs).
CCRs respond to cardiac arrest calls within a 10km radius, delivering rapid CPR and defibrillation when available. What began as a small group of ‘Wildcat’ responders is now growing into a Scotland-wide network, recently expanding into Dumfries & Galloway. Every local response increases someone’s chance of survival.

Our volunteers go above and beyond to keep communities safe.

22/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 5- Kit Bags at the Ready

For our Community Responders, preparation goes beyond the call.

Every shift starts with a fully checked kit bag- AED, oxygen, PPE, and essential supplies.
Many kits are possible thanks to the extra efforts of responders who fundraise and rally local support within communities. Every raffle ticket sold, every donation collected, and every conversation about the importance of Community Responders, helps turn community support into potentially saving a life.

It’s not expected, but it shows the dedication and care that define our Community Responders. Thank you to those who go the extra mile to make sure everything is ready when someone needs help most.