Harpenden
Community
First
Responders
We are the Harpenden Community First Responders (CFRs) a team of volunteers trained by the East of England Ambulance Trust to respond to certain types of emergency calls in Harpenden and the surrounding villages.
Our mission is to be there in those critical first minutes of a potentially life-threatening emergency - before the ambulance crew arrives.
As a voluntary organisation, we depend on the generosity of donations and fundraising events.
We also offer Basic Life Saving (BLS) training to the public and community groups to empower them with life-saving skills.
Meet the Team
All of our team are dedicated volunteers who give up their spare time to help out in the community. None of us are paid. We carry out our role as Community First Responders, run training courses and attend fundraising events for free.
Monica
CFR
Vivienne
CFR / Team Leader
Neil
CFR
Join Us
CFR
What we have done
Since February 2024 we’ve helped people in Harpenden and the surrounding villages with the following emergencies:
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Community Training
Our aim is to teach as many people as possible how to respond in a medical emergency and give them the confidence to make potentially life changing decisions when it matters most.
Our awareness courses are free to attend, but any donations, no matter how big or small, are very welcome as the courses are funded via contributions from our supporters. Donations enable us to buy training equipment and other resources. They ensure free courses are accessible to all.
If you would like to book an EEAST Heart training session in Hertfordshire please email: harpendencfrs@gmail.com
If you're outside Hertfordshire, please contact volunteer@eastamb.nhs.uk
Community Events
Supporting Us
All of our volunteers give up their time for free, which is fantastic, but purchasing and maintaining kit all requires funding. This can only be achieved with your help.
Here’s how you can help us:
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Contribute towards our equipment fund. This fund allows us to purchase new equipment and keep our existing gear in good condition. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.
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Help us spread the word! Share our fundraising campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues. The more we raise awareness, the greater the impact we can make.
Our Supporters
We are incredibly fortunate to have received tremendous support from the local community through our JustGiving page. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated.
In addition, we are deeply grateful to the following businesses and community groups for their generous contributions:
Become a CFR
We are actively recruiting! Join us as a Volunteer Community First Responder in Harpenden. Experience the fulfilment of helping others and making a real difference in your community. To learn more about the role and how you can get involved visit EEAST
Automatic External Defibrillators
( AEDs )
As CFRs, we routinely attend cardiac arrests. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has a 1 in 10 survival rate and early CPR and defibrillation is critical to increase the chance of survival.
Early defibrillation is considered the link in the chain most likely to improve survival. The electric shocks it delivers has the potential to stop the heart and reset it to a healthy rhythm.
In Harpenden and the surrounding villages there are a number of public access defibrillators. To learn more about their location visit: Lions Defibrillator Map.
Interested in learning how to use a defibrillator? Contact us at harpendencfrs2024@gmail.com for a FREE awareness course.
If you own a defibrillator please ensure it is registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network. The Circuit connects defibrillators to NHS ambulance services across the UK, so that in those crucial moments after a cardiac arrest, they can be accessed quickly to help save lives. If your defibrillator isn't registered, the ambulance services can't find it when it is needed the most.