The VFD Nittenau is running a First Responder system in its town. This means, a First Responder unit (usually two especially trained members of the VFD Nittenau) is alarmed when there is a medical emergency situation in Nittenau. This unit can then give qualified advanced first aid to the patient until the ambulance or an emergency doctor arrives.
The unit can also support the emergency personnel. It doesn't mean that any job is taken away by our fire department members, further treatment or transport will still be done by the paramedics or emergency doctor.
The First Responders are most important in situations like resuscitation, cardiac infarctions, standstill of breathing etc., when every minute counts. As in Nittenau there is no ambulance and it can take long for an ambulance to arrive, the importance of a First Responder unit is evident.
In the USA First Responders are more common than in Germany, here there are only a few First Responder units, provided by different organizations like volunteer fire departments, real fire departments, Red Cross etc.
With help from the VFD Nittenau association the system is self-financing. Due to generous support from inhabitants, companies and the city of Nittenau we can serve the citizens with modern medical equipment.
A great new milestone is the new First Responder car which we received in the year 2020. It is the third generation in a time of 20 years. The vehicle has LED lights and sounds, automatic ems navigation and a hands-free system for radio communication. Its interior was designed by our specialists in the department.
Long-term experience and modern equipment help our reponders to do their job even better and faster.
Since october 2022 our First Responder is carrying a Corpuls C1. This device gives us additional methods of monitoring patients.
It is not only an automatic external defibrillator (AED), but also a monitor for supervising vital signs. No matter which incident we are called for - C1 is always ready!
Technical data:
- Manufacturer: GS Elektromedizinische Geräte
- Name: Corpuls C1
- Year of construction: 2022
- Costs: ca. 12000€
The main part was financed by the VFD Nittenau society, and kindly we also received donations. Main reason for the purchase was keeping up compatibility with EMS devices. So, in life-threatening situations the electrodes can be attached to the monitor of the ambulance in seconds.
In 2021 we established a training plan which is up to date to modern emergency medicine and respects the needs of the staff. We are training in teams, in order to guarantee structured workflows combined with background knowledge.
Emergency doctors, professional ems staff, emergency helicopter crews and Rescue Coordination Centers support us at working on training plans. This is inevitable for keeping our know-how updated.
