RESPONDER PROTOCOL

There are general membership requirements set out in the FAST Constitution as follows

1.    Membership is open to people over 18 years of age, of both [any] sexes, sound of mind, independently of nationality, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or political beliefs.

2.    Members must be physically capable of performing the required duties.

3.    Members must be willing to undertake any FAST Induction Course in order to make an informed decision regarding their interest, suitability and availability for becoming a member of FAST

4.    Responders must hold a current, valid driving licence and be willing to drive the FAST vehicles [unless other procedures have been agreed with the Committee]

5.    Members must share and cooperate in the aims and objectives of FAST.

6.    Members must accept the present Constitution and accept the Association purposes and rules. Acceptance to become a FAST member, in whichever role, implies agreement to abide-by this Constitution.

7.    The Committee shall have the power to reprimand, suspend or expel a member who infringes any Rule, or whose conduct does, in the Committee’s opinion, render the member unfit for membership to FAST.

8.    In the case of the Committee refusing membership to a person, notice shall be given in writing to the person in question, who will have 10 days to appeal.

In addition to these general membership requirements the FAST Constitution sets out additional requirements for those who chose to join the team as a Responder as follows:

1.    To ensure that they are physically fit in order to carry out the duties of a FAST Responder.

2.    To undertake the required Training on all aspects of being a FAST Responder.

3.    To commit to undertake a minimum of 3 shifts per month, when residing in Camposol, on completion of the required First Aid Training Course.

4.    To attend the Training/Practice sessions over a period of 12 months, in order to maintain the skills and level of knowledge required by the Association.

5.    To ensure their personal protection by using Personal Protection Equipment at all times.

6.    To ensure their personal safety by always responding to a shout with their co-responder, and never alone. [except for Level 4 solo responders]

7.    To ensure that all FAST equipment, supplies and vehicles are treated with respect and are used responsibly.

8.    To ensure that they can fully discharge their responsibilities as FAST Responders by refraining from consuming alcohol at least 8 hours prior to a duty, and by never using illegal drugs.

 

Membership of FAST in itself includes responsibilities for data protection and confidentiality as defined by our Data Protection Course and Confidentiality Agreement which are signed by all Members when joining FAST.  For the avoidance of doubt, Responders need to refrain from consuming alcohol during their shifts as well as the 8 hours prior to a duty set out in the Constitution and alcohol should NEVER be consumed whilst wearing FAST uniform.  Even though you may not be on duty but are wearing the uniform, the public will not know this and it only takes a photo or a comment online about responders drinking on duty to adversely affect the confidence of our patients in our service.  If you are wearing a uniform but are not on rostered duty (eg attending a funeral or fundraising event), please ensure that you change out of the uniform before having an alcoholic drink – and just be aware that some drinks may look alcoholic even though they are not.  As an alternative your FAST badge could be worn without responder uniform.

 

RESPONDER PROCEDURES

FAST is a semi-professional, voluntary organisation and we should be on a par with Cruz Roja or Proteccion Civil; ie a well-trained team of Responders who all have the same level of training and the same level of commitment. Anything less, and we lose credibility in the community. It only takes one poor response to spoil our hard earned reputation.

 

Handover Procedures

1.    On handover the outgoing responder drives to the incoming Responder’s home (or other location indicated by the incoming Responder) at the appropriate time (or such other time as agreed between the Responders).  The incoming Responder should drive the outgoing Responder home. 

2.    The incoming Responder should then check the car and contents using the Vehicle and Equipment Check form provided in the black bag, removing the small red and green bags and taking them inside for a complete check of bag equipment.  It is imperative that the small red bag, the green bag and the black information bag should be taken into the house with the phone to keep at room temperature.  The equipment is sensitive to extreme temperatures and will possibly not function if not kept at a reasonable temperature.  Additionally the removal of the equipment makes the cars less of a target for theft.

3.    When completing the Vehicle and Equipment Check, the telephone checks (battery life, calling your co-Responder and the FAST number) are immediately essential to ensure a functioning service.   Ensure that you have checked the roster to see who you need to handover to (in some circumstances if may be that there is no-one on shift immediately after you).  Please ensure that a call is made to the Responder to whom you are handing over to a) check that they are aware that they are next on shift and b) check where they need that handover to take place if other than at their home address.  This call should usually be made immediately you come on shift but if you are starting at 8am you may want to leave it until about 10am to ensure that you do not wake the next responder up – please ensure that the call is made within two hours; it has happened that the next responder has forgotten that they are on shift (or misread the roster) and has gone out so if this call is left to the last minute, there is no time to rectify the matter.

4.    Any damage or problems with the vehicle or equipment should be reported to Nigel (Head of Operations) as soon as possible, who will organise any repairs.  If for any reason Nigel is not contactable, the details for the grua (tow truck) via the insurance are in the glove compartment – the car should be towed to Decklids for attention.

5.    If there are missing items in the small green or red bags, please replenish these immediately from the large red bag.  Any essential items (such as defibrillator pads or BVMs) which cannot be replaced from the large red bag should be reported to Nigel (Head of Operations) or Tony (Head of Purchasing) as soon as possible.  Any equipment used should be noted on the shout sheet and the Vehicle and Equipment Check Form.  The large red bags will be completely replenished on a Tuesday after training by the responders on duty.

6.    Couples or near neighbours working together who usually use one car will receive both cars and phones thereby keeping the respective cars and phones together at all times. This will ensure that in the event of a vehicle or equipment malfunction, a complete replacement is at hand. It is not mandatory that both vehicles are taken on call outs but it is preferable. In the event of just one car being used, the two duty Responders must ALWAYS be together if they go out i.e. to the Commercial Centre for a coffee as, in the event of a shout, it will save vital time in not going to have to pick up their duty partner.

 

Answering the Phone and Arriving at the Incident

1.    Number 1 phone will receive the phone call.

2.    When answering the call, introduce yourself “Hello this is xxxx at FAST, how may I help you?”

3.    Write down the details on the Incident Report Sheet. Where appropriate, use phonetic eg. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta. If the call is received during the night time hours, ask the person calling if they can switch the outside lights on to assist in the location of the caller’s address. Get a neighbour to help. When questioning the caller, if you believe violence has been used against anyone you should advise the caller to ring the police/Guardia

4.    Give advice, if possible, before ending the call.

5.    Call your Number 2 and give them details and arrange a meeting point.

6.    Drive safely with FAST uniform on. Always carry your licence and FAST ID.

7.    All responders’ numbers (plus taxi and Funeral Director) are in the mobile ‘phones.

8.    Arrive at Address and assess your own safety carefully before entering the incident scene.  When operating in pairs (2 Level Three Responders) both responders must be happy with the decision taken.  If necessary call for police assistance and await their arrival before entering the scene.  Scene assessment has to be a personal one and if, for any reason, you do not feel safe to enter, the Committee will back your decision not to proceed until back up is available.

9.    Use gloves, mask and other Personal Protection Equipment as required.

 

Treatment of Patient and Attending Family/Friends

1.    Introduce yourselves and ask permission to treat patient.

2.    Talk to patient even if not responding.

3.    Talk to your partner.

4.    Treat the patient with care and compassion. Preserve dignity.

5.    The patient’s partner/family will need care.

6.    Once patient assessment is complete, continue to monitor: pulse, O2, BP, temperature, respiration.

7.    If patient deteriorates, call 112 again to alert (Priority System).

 

Incident Report Sheet

Fill in sheet with as much detail as possible ensuring that the form has been signed by the patient or their representative.  Ensure that the name(s) (not signatures) of the responders are added on the reverse.  If you feel that follow up should be offered please complete a Follow Up Call Sheet to be delivered to Ruth (post box at Calle Torvizcon 18, D19)

 

Arrival of EMS

1.    Assist, if required.

2.    Offer the Incident Report Sheet to the Paramedic/Doctor.

3.    Remove FAST equipment from patient so EMS can put theirs on. Some exceptions, face mask (BVM), bandages.

4.    Ask where the patient is to be taken.

 

Following attendance at an Incident

1.    The Incident Report Sheet should be checked and delivered to the postbox at Calle Albaida 1271 (C16) as soon as possible after the incident, and at the latest at the end of the shift. 

2.    If you have been responding as a pair, please ensure that you take time to debrief so that you can both discuss the call and your handling of it.

3.    Ensure that any equipment that has been utilised from the small red or green bags is replenished from the large red bag if possible. If the necessary items are not in the large red bag (eg defib pads) please ensure that any urgent missing items are reported to Nigel/Tony

Incident Report sheets should be completed after every call, even if only telephone advice is requested or the ambulance arrives before you do.

 

WhatsApp Groups

We now have three separate WhatsApp Groups to which all our responders are added once qualified:

FAST Urgency group – this is to be used SOLELY for urgent messages requesting assistance (or responding to say that you are on the way).  Messages should be kept short and to the point eg Help required, heart attack plus address.  No chit chat, organising handovers, reporting administrative problems etc should take place on this group.  Repeated misuse will ensure the failure of the group’s purpose because responders will merely mute the app or take themselves out of the group.

FAST Social group – this is for any social chit chat, notices etc.

FAST Procedures (& Patients) Updates – this group has been sent up to enable updates of a confidential nature to be shared regarding ongoing patient care or changes to procedures.  The group is not intended to be an alternative to picking up the phone and arranging handovers or requesting replacement equipment or paperwork – this should be done directly with the relevant committee member.

Training

With this in mind, Tracey and the Training Team (with Baz still as our tutor and link with Murcia Health) are committed to ensure that the necessary opportunities are in place for all Responders to keep their skills current and at a high level of performance. Responders will be required to undertake regular practice in their AED/CPR skills in addition to attending a minimum of one practice session every month at Training on a Tuesday morning to avoid ‘Skills Fade’.

Regular training takes place at the Cultural Centre in B Sector on Tuesdays between 10-12am.

If you are on duty on a Tuesday, the morning practice session should be attended (subject to receiving a shout) and the large red trauma bags should be brought inside the Cultural Centre for weekly contents checks (the smaller bags should be replenished as the contents are utilised).  Please park the car on the concrete hard standing behind the Centre to ensure that Mark can carry out his inspections safely off the road.

Any Responders who are away from Camposol for extended periods of time, need to attend a practice session for assessment before re-joining the Roster.  Responders who are on the Roster, but fail to appear for practice for three months, will receive an invitation to attend and will be suspended from the Roster until they do.

 

Availability

Due to the time and equipment costs incurred in the training of a FAST Responder, it is not unreasonable to expect new Responders to be on the Roster for at least twelve months, not necessarily consecutive, following their training. By the same token, it is also not unreasonable to expect at least three shifts per month from each Responder, as set out in the Constitution.  If you are away for half a month, try to be available if possible for more shifts when you are here. Obviously, this will then relieve the pressure on your fellow Responders who have to take up the ‘slack’. We are, after all, a team and should be considerate to the needs of our colleagues.

When requested please send your availability to rosters_fast@outlook.com.  Please note that once the roster comes out it is your responsibility to check that your availability has been correctly entered and to report immediately to Joy/Stuart if this is not the case.  Once the roster is set, if you find you need to change a shift please put a message out to the responder team (possibly on the Social Facebook page) to see if there is anyone available to either cover or swap a shift with you.  If there is a volunteer to change, please let Joy/Stuart know accordingly.  Similarly if you are ill or find you cannot do a shift at late notice it is your responsibility to a) let your co-Responder know, b) let either Tony, Stuart, Suzanne or Tracey know so that the phones can be turned off and c) let Joy/Stuart know. 

 

FAST Role

We are an EMERGENCY First Aid Team. We are not care workers, social workers or an unpaid taxi service.

Our role is defined by the Emergency First Response (EFR protocols):

PRESERVE LIFE ….. PREVENT DETERIORATION ….. PROMOTE RECOVERY

Our role is to improve, stabilise and promote recovery of the casualty so that when the EMS arrive, the casualty is in the best possible state for their continued care. When the EMS, whether it be an ambulance arriving or despatching the casualty to the Health Centre to take over, our job is done. We should remain objective and professional. We should not become involved in a situation where a care assistant is required. You can of course raise a social support case to Ruth who will contact the patient/family support and signpost any extra assistance available. 

We have had a number of shouts for help in moving an immobile patient. FAST policy is that on NO account should Responders be lifting or moving bedridden or immobile persons.  We are NOT trained or insured for this role.  However, in the case of a casualty requiring CPR, it is necessary to place the casualty down on the floor.  Equally, if FAST is called out to a person who requires nursing, this is not something which we should be doing.  We need to GENTLY suggest to the spouse or family that nursing or care assistants are required and that this is not what we do.  Again a flag can be raised to Ruth for signposting for additional assistance.

Points to Note:

1.    We are not insured to carry non-FAST personnel so cannot take casualties to medical facilities nor transport people home – our cars and services may be required at any time so we cannot have them tied up with non-FAST activities.

2.    Animals should not be transported in the FAST vehicles under any circumstances.  The cars contain medical equipment which we cannot afford to become tainted with animal fur or dander – apart from the fact that Mark does not need to be cleaning animal hair from the car.

 

Inebriated Persons

As the summer progresses, FAST receives even more calls to attend to persons under the influence of alcohol. If a shout is received from a bar indicating that the casualty is drunk, then it is necessary to first establish whether the casualty has injured themselves or appears to be ill rather than just intoxicated. Of course, we have to attend all shouts to ensure the casualty is not in need of our assistance, but we are NOT going to transport anyone home because they are drunk. If anyone is misguided enough to call out an ambulance for a purely inebriated person, they will find that Cruz Roja will leave them wherever they find them.

 

Violence

When a Responder arrives at a scene where there is or is likely to be violence between individuals at the scene, under no circumstances should the Responder get involved or act as a referee. They should wait until either the Police arrives or the threat has been removed before any treatment is given.

 

Emotional Support

 

Providing emotional support when a loved one is ill, injured or worse, is of course an important part of our role. Whilst we are attending a casualty until the EMS arrive or after a death whilst we await the funeral services, we should be giving as much care and support as we are able. However, we also receive shouts, where there is no casualty as such but a person who needs emotional support. In this instance, it may be useful to have on hand telephone numbers of Charities who can assist with this situation. ALL Responders need to be aspiring to maintain the highest possible standards and, anything less, is letting down their team and their community. This is not an organisation which can be joined half-heartedly. You have to be committed as we are talking Life and Death.

 

 

Funeral Director

 

If the patient is pronounced dead, give the family the opportunity to contact their funeral director.

Otherwise we have Tony Smith’s number logged on the FAST phones and he will help.

If you have been unsuccessful in getting the patient to respond and they are dead, do consider that the Police may attend.

The Ambulance service will deal with certifying death and contacting Police. Try not to move the patient too much.

 

 

Telephones

 

You must not use the Emergency Phone for making Personal Calls.

 

Confidentiality

Our responsibilities for confidentiality are understandably high.  Details of our attendance at incidents should not be divulged for patient confidentiality reasons.

1.    Do not discuss patient’s name, address or treatment anywhere you may be overheard, even to your partner.

2.    If you need to discuss your treatment of a patient, you can speak to any of the Trainers or Responders.

3.    FAST have Open Forum Sessions when discussions can take place although no names or addresses should be given during these discussions.

4.    The enforcement agencies, Police/Guardia may ask for details. You must co-operate.

 

 

Responder Protocol

Date: July 2024

Review date: July 2025