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Pilot underway in Hampshire where type of medical emergency 'could include cardiac arrest'.

Special constables in Hampshire are now serving as first responders for the ambulance service.

A trial has begun which will see six specials, who have been trained by paramedics, deployed to carry out initial lifesaving treatment at medical emergencies where an ambulance would struggle to get there in time.

A statement from the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) says: “The type of medical emergencies the special constables could be sent to include patients in cardiac arrest where every second saved before treatment commences makes a real difference to the patient surviving.”

Local Police Federation chairman John Apter said the scheme is covering gaps in the "broken"  ambulance service with resources from another overstretched one.

Richard Tracey, SCAS community responder manager, said: “Due to the nature of their work, the special constables in Hampshire are often roaming across the more rural parts of the county.

“If we get a 999 emergency call saying someone is in cardiac arrest in such areas, they could be the closest medically trained person to the incident by a good few minutes.”

The training provided by SCAS enables the specials to carry out basic lifesaving skills, including the use of oxygen and a defibrillator, which can be used to provide a shock to patients in cardiac arrest.

Hampshire Special Constabulary Deputy Chief Officer Russell Morrison said: “The partnership has enabled the six special constables to develop and enhance their emergency first aid capabilities.

“It is something they are extremely passionate about; being able to offer an additional, potential lifesaving service to the communities and people they help keep safe.”

The specials will respond for SCAS to medical emergencies in their patrol vehicles under normal road conditions. This is similar to the service provided by existing community first responders across the ambulance service region.

The ambulance service says the specials will be classified as first responders when deployed by them so should the patient they help dies it will not count as a death following police contact for the purposes of an IPCC investigation.

Hampshire Police Federation chairman John Apter said: “Any initiative which sees police officers assisting other 999 services such as this and giving first aid to those who need it will be a good thing, however for years police officers have given first aid.

“But this initiative is papering over the cracks of a broken ambulance service with scarce police resources, at a time when our officers are struggling to respond to our own 999 calls.

“If our special constabulary do have extra capacity then why don’t we deploy them to where they’re needed in some of our busiest areas?”

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[Rocket + 6,403]

They may have the medical training, but does the force also give them response grade training so they can get to the scene of say as quoted a cardiac arrest quickly and not at 'Special Speed'?

[Milankovitch + 3,445]

Why do they need response training for it? CFRs manage just fine without most of the time.

Quote

The specials will respond for SCAS to medical emergencies in their patrol vehicles under normal road conditions. This is similar to the service provided by existing community first responders across the ambulance service region.

 

[Burnsy2023 2,895]

34 minutes ago, Rocket said:

They may have the medical training, but does the force also give them response grade training so they can get to the scene of say as quoted a cardiac arrest quickly and not at 'Special Speed'?

The article says that they will attend under normal road conditions so not response. Some specials in Hampshire are response trained though.

[Sceptre + 2,710]

If the ambulance services expects them to attend life and limb emergencies then they ought to contribute towards proper training for them to get there quickly rather than them end up in a position of temptation. Anything else is a half-measure.

The comment about deaths after contact is unsatisfactory too - constables administering first aid on duty are acting in the execution of their duties, and deaths following concerns for welfare are a category reportable to the IPCC. This scheme will without doubt see a mission creep from cardiac arrests to every conceivable situation where the ambulance want the police there, and specials will end up being asked to consider restraint - if someone dies after being handcuffed by a special using powers under the Mental Capacity Act you can bet there will be an inquest and the IPCC will get involved. This is not something the ambulance service face with their existing first responders and they're probably not qualified to comment upon it.

On the face of it better provision of defibrillators across the county is a good idea however the agreements need to be properly scrutinised and the officers involved given the right training to stave off any unintended consequences.

[Zulu 22 + 4,639]

Let us be honest about this, When was the last time that anyone took a St. John's First Aid refresher course. There was a time when this was done every 3 years. At the present time there are very few officers wo are actually qualified to perform first aid. Unless all officers are trained then this should not be being considered.

Having said all of that I do not know of any officer who would not attempt to save some persons life, qualified, or not. It is what we do.

[Reasonable Man + 1,258]

In the force where I currently work all officers do half a day first training every year. They have to complete this as part of mandatory training to be assessed as being competent at PDR time.
The old three year qualification was a joke, where we spent an hour practicing bandaging and being told the answers to the questions of an exam that we took immediately after.


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[Reasonable Man + 1,258]

In the force where I currently work all officers do half a day first training every year. They have to complete this as part of mandatory training to be assessed as being competent at PDR time.
The old three year qualification was a joke, where we spent an hour practicing bandaging and being told the answers to the questions of an exam that we took immediately after.


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[Indiana Jones + 1,103]

"At the present time there are very few officers wo are actually qualified to perform first aid." - I would argue the opposite. At present there should be every operational officer able to administer first aid.

In my force, for years now we've been required to undertake annual first aid in line with the CoP APP FALP (First Aid Learning Programme). We currently undertake one day every six months along with OST - so we get a mixed day of both, twice a year - equating to one day of each annually.

[Policey_Man + 765]

This scheme concerns me. It seems the lines are being blurred rather a lot here.

IF the Specials aren't acting as Police Officers, but first responders patrolling in Ambulance Service vehicles, then why does it matter they are Specials? It seems to me that a better idea would be to create some sort of voluntary ambulance service.... like say, Community First Responders, St Johns, or the British Red Cross, maybe?....

[Prae 764]

Who actually believes that the IPCC won't be running around with furious trousers baying for blood as a death following Police contact when someone expires? Good luck with that as an SC!


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[northernape 55]

On 2017-5-3 at 08:04, Zulu 22 said:

At the present time there are very few officers wo [sic] are actually qualified to perform first aid.

You don't half like to stir the pot.

No GMP specials are going operational without a current first aid qual. I can't speak for regulars, but then neither can you, not anymore. In the current climate of bottom-covering exercises, it's also ridiculous to assume that brass will let anyone slip through the net.

Apparently I specialise in giving first aid to people with head trauma whenever I'm on duty in the city centre. They really need to learn how to stay on their feet, but that's another story.

As for this initiative, it's a trial, so at least give them the benefit of the doubt. Very blurry lines, and yes, it would be better if the ambo service would fund their police response driving course, that way they'd get more than just a few more CFRs who happen to carry an Airwave radio.

[Zulu 22 + 4,639]

8 hours ago, northernape said:

You don't half like to stir the pot.

No GMP specials are going operational without a current first aid qual. I can't speak for regulars, but then neither can you, not anymore. In the current climate of bottom-covering exercises, it's also ridiculous to assume that brass will let anyone slip through the net.

Apparently I specialise in giving first aid to people with head trauma whenever I'm on duty in the city centre. They really need to learn how to stay on their feet, but that's another story.

As for this initiative, it's a trial, so at least give them the benefit of the doubt. Very blurry lines, and yes, it would be better if the ambo service would fund their police response driving course, that way they'd get more than just a few more CFRs who happen to carry an Airwave radio.

And the follow up courses to keep them qualified?  What next, Ambulances going to "Thieves on calls ?"

[Indiana Jones + 1,103]

52 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

And the follow up courses to keep them qualified?  What next, Ambulances going to "Thieves on calls ?"

What, a check drive? It's hardly breaking the bank.

And we're not talking about response drivers, these are A to B drivers attending under the same conditions as any other CFR. Like my Aunt used to when she was a CFR with SCAS.

The throwaway comment on ambo going to thieves on adds nothing to the conversation.

City of London and, I think, some Met boroughs attend Red1 calls on behalf of the LAS in area cars, on blues, as those vehicles have defibs.

Any argument around taking police away from their primary roles as doubly as (in)valid for e.g. Response PCs vs general patrol SCs.

Additionally, I would remind you of one of the duties of a constable - that of protecting life.  This scheme is not incompatible with that duty.

Perhaps closer working with some partner agencies might start to yield other benefits after a while?

[Zulu 22 + 4,639]

Yes our main function is the "Protection of Life and Property" but we are not trained medics. We are3 trained in basic First Aid and perhaps the use of a defib.,  We qualify in First Aid but the refresher First Aid to keep the qualification leaves a lot to be desired and is very much hit and miss from force to force.  My qualification for First Aid lapsed some years before I retired but I would still render First Aid qualified, or not. For any patient, the sooner he is receiving the correct treatment, by the correct people, in the right place, the better.  My God daughter is the member of a mountain rescue team, as volunteers, but their training is almost on the par of a para medic and is ongoing week in week out.

The best treatment might be from a poorly trained First Aider which would be better than nothing but that is a stop gap until the real thing is available.