First Responders
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Continuing Education
First Responders are trained volunteers in your communities that can provide life saving emergency medical services to you while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
When a person places a 9-1-1 call, the dispatcher will alert the ambulance to your location and while the ambulance is on their way, First Responders, who live in your communities, are also dispatched to you.
So who are the First Responders?
They are a group of dedicated, reliable, trained volunteers that have taken on the responsibility to provide you with care until the ambulance arrives. As this is a voluntary service, we are always looking for more people to participate in this program. First Responders can make a huge difference in an emergency situation by providing life-saving skills (CPR, controlling bleeding, providing oxygen, etc).
First Responders are licensed by the Government of Saskatchewan as an Emergency Medical Services provider. This registration is for a two year period and First Responders must re-certify every two years ensuring they have up to date training in the core competencies such as spinal immobilization, airway management, patient assessment, and CPR & AED.
The Saskatoon Health Region provides four opportunities during this two year cycle for First Responders to obtain their mandatories. These are offered every March in Saskatoon and every November in a rural location.
The Saskatoon Health Region is pleased to offer the Red Cross First Responder program as the standard for First Responders in the province. First Responders not only work with their communities, and SHR, but also with their local ambulance service to ensure that the best care is provided. If you know of someone who is interested in joining this outstanding group of people please contact us.
Also, if you know of someone who is a First Responder be sure to thank them as they are all volunteers and without them it would be a very tough struggle for people who are facing an emergency alone.