SAS and St John Scotland partnership to benefit Gairloch

Life-saving kit which includes vital first aid equipment, oxygen, and a portable AED has been presented to the Gairloch Community First Responders (CFR) group by St John Scotland.

The kit will enable group members to respond to potentially life-threatening emergencies in Gairloch, such as a cardiac arrest or seizure in the vital first few minutes before an ambulance crew arrives.

The Gairloch CFR group covers the area from Red Point to Dundonnell, including around the coast in between. The group currently has nine trained CFR volunteers and is looking for new volunteers to join.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) currently has over 1000 CFRs across the country. St John Scotland will continue to work with SAS to offer financial assistance to various existing and new CFR schemes around the country, supporting six groups with life-saving kits every year. In return, the Gairloch CFR Group will support St John Scotland with their CPR and defibrillator training and awareness sessions in the local area.

Michael Dickson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “Our partnership with St John Scotland provides fantastic support to SAS Community First Responder groups across the country. Our CFRs are a vital link in the chain of survival for local communities, and it is great to see St John Scotland supporting them.”

Barri Millar, Chief Operating Officer at St John Scotland, said: “Community First Responders are at the heart of saving lives in rural communities like Gairloch. We’re delighted to support the group with this vital equipment, ensuring they are ready to respond when every second counts.

“Through our partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, we can continue to invest in people and communities while also working together locally to deliver CPR and defibrillator awareness that empowers even more people to act in an emergency.”

If you are interested in joining the Gairloch group, please click here for more information.