Ipswich Community First Responders

17/04/2026

🫁 CHOKING – FIRST AID 🫁

👀 1. Check severity
Ask: “Are you choking?”
• If they can cough or speak → encourage coughing
• If they can’t breathe, speak or cough → act fast

✋ 2. Back blows
Lean them forward and give up to 5 sharp back blows between the shoulder blades.

🤲 3. Abdominal thrusts
If back blows don’t work, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts.
(Stand behind, hand just above the belly button, pull inwards and upwards.)

🔁 4. Repeat
Alternate 5 back blows and 5 thrusts until the blockage clears or help arrives.

🛑 5. If they become unconscious
Lower them to the floor and call 999. Start CPR if trained.

🚫 Do NOT
❌ Perform abdominal thrusts on babies
❌ Put your hand/fingers in the mouth

🚑 Call 999 if:
• Choking continues
• The person collapses
• It’s a baby, pregnant person or frail adult

16/04/2026

Today Rahim is on duty on the East Suffolk CFR Car. If you see him about don't be afraid to give him a wave 👋🏾

25/03/2026

Very pleased to see the new livery on the East Suffolk CFR Car.

It is often out and about in Ipswich; give them a wave if you see them 😀

17/03/2026

Ipswich — we need you! 🫵

Many people don’t realise that Community First Responders in Ipswich are volunteers who respond to medical emergencies in our local area alongside the East of England Ambulance Service.

Often we can arrive within minutes, helping someone in our community before an ambulance gets there.

But while our time is volunteered, the life-saving equipment and training we rely on are funded through charitable donations.

We’re trying to raise funds to help keep our responders equipped and ready to help people across Ipswich and the surrounding areas.

If you’re able to support us, even a small amount makes a real difference.

You can donate here:
👉https://www.justgiving.com/page/ipswichcfr

And if you can’t donate, please consider sharing this post — it really helps us reach more people in the local community.

Thank you for supporting us 💚

Help Ipswich CFR raise money to support East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Charitable Fund

12/03/2026

⚡ SEIZURES ⚡

🛑 1. Stay calm & make it safe
Move objects away to prevent injury.
Cushion their head if possible.

⏱️ 2. Time the seizure
Note how long it lasts — this is important.

🙅 3. Do NOT restrain
Let the seizure happen. Don’t hold them down.

🚫 4. Do NOT put anything in the mouth

🔄 5. After the seizure
When movements stop, place them in the recovery position.
Stay with them until fully awake.

🧍 6. Reassure
They may be confused, tired or embarrassed — speak calmly.

🚑 Call 999 if:
• It’s their first seizure
• The seizure lasts 5 minutes or more
• One seizure follows another without recovery
• They’re injured, pregnant, or in water
• They don’t regain consciousness
• You’re unsure or concerned

30/01/2026

🩸 BLEEDING – FIRST AID 🩸

What to do if someone is bleeding❓️

🛑 1. Make it safe
Check the area is safe for you and the casualty

✋ 2. Apply pressure
Use a clean cloth, dressing or your gloved hand and press firmly on the wound

⬆️ 3. Raise the injury
If possible, raise the wounded area above heart level (unless it causes pain or injury)

🩹 4. Bandage
Secure with a bandage once bleeding slows.
If blood soaks through, apply more dressings on top

🧍 5. Help them
Keep the person calm and still. Watch for signs of shock (pale, cold, dizzy)

🚫 Do NOT
❌ Remove objects stuck in the wound
❌ Wash deep or heavily bleeding wounds
❌ Use tourniquets unless trained to do so

🚑 Call 999 urgently if:
• Bleeding is heavy or won’t stop
• Blood is spurting
• An object is embedded
• The person becomes drowsy or unresponsive

15/01/2026

💡 Did You Know? 💡

Community First Responders are volunteers who rely on charitable donations to help keep us responding when our community needs us most.

Donations help fund:
🚑 Life-saving equipment
🎓 Ongoing training
🧰 Responder kit bags & Uniform

Every contribution — big or small — helps us continue to support the East of England Ambulance Service and caring for our local community

💚 If you’re able to support us, please consider donating:
👉https://www.justgiving.com/page/ipswichcfr

Thank you for helping us help Ipswich.

09/01/2026

🧠 STROKE – ACT FAST 🧠

⏱️ Stroke is a medical emergency — every minute matters

Use F.A.S.T. to spot the signs:

🙂 F – Face
Ask them to smile. Does one side droop?

💪 A – Arms
Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm fall?

🗣️ S – Speech
Is their speech slurred or hard to understand?

🚑 T – Time
Call 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs.

🛑 While waiting for help:
• Keep them safe, calm and comfortable
• Help them sit or lie down
• Do not give food or drink
• Reassure and stay with them

🚫 Do NOT
❌ Let them “sleep it off”
❌ Delay calling 999

⚠️ Other stroke signs can include:
• Sudden vision problems
• Confusion or dizziness
• Severe headache
• Numbness on one side of the body

06/01/2026

❄️ Snow and ice are still affecting some parts of our region today. Please remember: cold weather can be especially tough for those who are more vulnerable —

✅ People with chronic health conditions
✅ Those living with disabilities that make it hard to keep warm
✅ Older adults (65+)
✅ Young children (under 5)

Help everyone ⬇️

✅ Check in on others
🧥 Wear warm clothing
💉 Get your winter vaccines
💊 Stock your medicine cabinet
🏠 Keep your home at least 18°C.
👉 Find heating help: gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills

Thanks to Paula for this lovely picture taken in Beccles this week. ❄️❄️

03/01/2026

🚗 What is a Community First Responder (CFR)? 🚗

Community First Responders (CFRs) are trained volunteers from your local community who work alongside the East of England Ambulance Service to help people when they need it most.

📍 What do they do?

When a 999 call is received, a CFR may be sent to emergencies close to where they live or work. Because they’re already nearby, they can often arrive before an ambulance, providing vital early care until ambulance crews take over.

🩺 What care can they provide?

CFRs are trained to respond to a range of emergencies, including:

- Cardiac arrests
- Chest pain
- Breathing difficulties
- Unconscious patients

CFRs carry essential lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and oxygen, and provide reassurance and support to patients and families at what can be a very frightening time.

🤝 Part of the community, for the community

CFRs are not ambulance staff – they are volunteers who give their time to help their community. They come from all walks of life, but share one thing in common: a desire to make a difference locally.

🚑 By providing early care, CFRs help and support ambulance crews so they can focus on patients who need them most 💚

31/12/2025

🎆 Happy New Year from Ipswich Community First Responders 🎇

As the New Year begins, we’d like to wish everyone in Ipswich and the surrounding areas a safe, healthy, and positive year ahead

💡 If you’re celebrating, please look after one another, drink responsibly, and plan safe journeys home

🚨 In an emergency, always call 999

💚 Thank you for your continued support — we’re proud to serve our community

08/07/2024

https://www.internationalparamedicsday.com/

The first ever International Paramedics Day will be held on 8th July 2022 to recognise and celebrate the work carried out by paramedics and first responders around the world.