As a progressive company, Littlehampton Welding like to ensure they have all the bases covered when it comes to First Aid. And, after a recent training session with St John’s Ambulance, it was suggested that they might like to train their First-Aiders up as First Responders. A First Responder for the un-initiated, is trained first-aider who works with the Ambulance Service within a specific area, to attend the scene of an accident before them.  In this way, the patient can be treated with CPR and if necessary receive treatment from a defibrillator and/or oxygen, to ensure they keep breathing or the heart active until the ambulance arrives.  A defibrillator is a piece of equipment which can be carried by a First Responder, which on instruction, gives an electric shock to a patient to attempt to revive the heart.

If CPR is given and/or a defibrillator is used in the first approx 8 minutes after an accident, it can mean the difference between a patient living or dying, because blood will continue to circulate and go to the brain. The patient will also be in a much more revived state for the ambulance crew once they arrive.

Through the Business Park Association at Riverside, Colin Welburn from Littlehampton Welding informed the meeting about the opportunity to train up a group of volunteers from other businesses in the business park. And, working closely with Chris Shephard, Business Parks Co-ordinator for Arun, the group realised that there was an opportunity for this proposal to link in with the Local Area Agreement Outcome 22 funding pot. 

A project proposal was put in to Littlehampton 2020 and the Local Strategic Partnership which would bid for funding to provide a defibrillator, associated equipment, and training for up to 9 volunteers from 4 different businesses on the Industrial Estate. A condition of the funding (which was approved) was for all the volunteers to belong to Littlehampton & District First Responders which is a charity funded purely on donations. In this way they would be insured, trained continuously and have their kit replaced as it is used. They will also be contacted via text message by the 999 switchboard when there is an incident for them to respond to.

In an industrial area where electric shocks and other work place accidents can occur, having the First Responders and a defibrillator on site will massively reduce the “years of life lost”.

For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it