~ Wokingham business supports local
ambulance service with
volunteer time and money ~
8 December 2010 – Wokingham, UK –
Wokingham-based, IT and business skills training provider, Global
Knowledge is donating £2000 to the Swallowfield Community Responder
Group, part of the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) thanks to
its EMEA Financial Controller, Gary Clark, who has become a
volunteer for the Group.
Gary became a Community First Responder (CFR) for the
Swallowfield Group in October - a member of the public, trained by
the ambulance service to offer immediate medical assistance to
individuals in life threatening situations before the arrival of
the ambulance, for conditions including cardiac arrest. Global
Knowledge were so impressed by Gary and the work of the CFRs that
they made a donation - presented to Gary and Ian Hammond,
Swallowfield Group Coordinator and Stephen Cartwright,
Community Responder Liaison Officer for SCAS by Katie Franklin, UK
Marketing Manager, Global Knowledge on Tuesday 7 December at Global
Knowledge’s offices.
Allan Pettman, UK Managing Director, Global Knowledge said:
“When Gary highlighted his role with the CFR scheme, it was an easy
decision to show our support for the vital role CFRs play in saving
local lives. As a local business, we have an obligation to help the
community in which we live and work. Gary and all of the CFRs are a
great example of how ordinary people really can make a difference
and give something back.”
Gary Clark “I’ve been thinking of doing something for the local
community for a while now and after seeing a poster in the doctors
surgery I thought what better way of giving something back, than to
potentially save someone’s life. Part of the training is to do a 12
hour shift with an ambulance crew to really see things at the sharp
end. It was a great experience and you get an overwhelming
feeling of support from the ambulance crews – they really do value
what we do.”
Clark added: “Anyone who volunteers will know it’s important to
have the support of their companies. I’m delighted that Global
Knowledge has not only given me the time to get trained but have
put their hands in their pockets to help too. For every minute that
goes by without defibrillation a patient’s chances of survival
diminishes by 10%, so the money will go a long way to helping the
Swallowfield Group secure a 4x4 vehicle, and provide urgent medical
assistance to those in need, even in times of bad weather.”
The Community First Responders scheme is run
throughout SCAS, these areas are Oxford/Bucks, Berskhire &
Hampshire. Volunteers provide vital support to their communities in
many different situations. Not only do they provide the first
three events in the ‘chain of survival’ – early access, early CPR
and early defibrillation - to improve survival rates in cases of
cardiac arrest. But they also provide support and reassurance to
patients and their families following a medical emergency.
For more information please visit: http://www.swallowfieldresponders.co.uk/
Ian Hammond, Swallowfield Group Coordinator receives a £2000
cheque on behalf of the SCAS from Katie Franklin, UK Marketing
Manager, Global Knowledge, Wokingham
L-R: Stephen Cartwright; Ian Hammond, Katie Franklin; Gary
Clark.