SOUTH Central Ambulance Charity's help has been "game changing" thanks to providing emergency medical assistance at almost 7,000 incidents over the last year. 

The charity's Dynamic Response Vehicles (DRVs) has helped volunteer Community First Responders (CFRs) arrive ‘first on scene’. 

CFRs are members of the public trained to support South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) primarily by responding to medical emergencies.

Due to the locality of volunteers, they often arrive before an ambulance to many 999 calls, with the CFR able to administer potentially life-saving pre-hospital treatment.

The charity funded the purchase of 40 Dacia Dusters in 2020, with the range of 4x2 and 4x4 vehicles.

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Over the past year, the Dusters have attended 1,130 ‘Category 1’ calls to treat people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries, such as cardiac arrest, while 5,218 ‘Category 2’ emergency calls were attended where people had breathing difficulties or stroke and heart attack symptoms.

Vanessa Casey, chief executive of South Central Ambulance Charity, said: “The Duster has been an excellent choice for community responding. It has met our expectations in terms of suitability for the role, having all the space we need and being 100 per cent reliable.

“The 4x4 versions have provided reassurance to our volunteers in reaching patients in more remote areas, such as bridal footpaths and rough tracks, where a normal car may have struggled. Feedback from our Community First Responders has been very complimentary.

The 1,200-strong team also assist with ongoing patient care at the scene and operate across various areas including Hampshire and is solely funded by South Central Ambulance Charity, which provides equipment and training. 

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Luke Broad, Dacia brand director for the UK, said: “I’m really proud to see how the Dusters have helped South Central Ambulance Charity carry out invaluable work in and around the local community.

“The Duster’s rugged and robust qualities are providing volunteers with the peace-of-mind they need to deliver potentially life-saving care, regardless of the conditions. South Central Ambulance Charity’s experience perfectly illustrates all what the Duster has to offer.”

Find out more about South Central Ambulance Charity’s partnership with Dacia on the Dacia UK YouTube channel.