Meet the Silver End team who provide a vital service

4:27pm Thursday 4th December 2008

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Alan Riches doubts whether he would be here today if it was not for Silver End First Responders, and Melvin Gymer in particular.

Mr Riches, of Broadway, Silver End, said he owed a lot to the volunteer group, which provides pre-hospital care in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrives.

The 53-year-old was cooking breakfast in July when he suddenly felt ill. He told his wife Susan and he started to feel sick.

Mr Riches collapsed in his bathroom, but managed to shout to his wife to get help from Mr Gymer, who is his neighbour.

Within a matter of seconds Mr Gymer, who has been a Silver End First Responder since the group started in 2004, was by Mr Riches’ side and giving him oxygen.

The ambulance did not arrive for another 20 minutes and Mr Riches said he would be a lot worse off if it was not for Mr Gymer.

Mr Riches was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, where it was discovered he had suffered a mild heart attack.

A stent was used to clear a blocked artery and he is now in full health.

Mr Riches was quick to pay tribute to the work of the responders.

He said: “I think responders is an excellent idea and I think they are a Godsend, I really do. I am feeling fine now and can’t thank Melvin enough for what he did.”

Mr Gymer, whose wife Lisa is also part of the group, said the responders had been to more than 200 different calls.

Not all were life-saving, but the importance of a first responder is not to be overlooked.

There are six in the Silver End group, with two new members who are awaiting training, and they are supposed to cover only areas they can get to in eight minutes.

“We are supposed to cover an eight-minute circle taking in Rivenhall, Braintree, Cressing and White Notley from our Silver End base,” said Mr Gymer.

“But we go everywhere and wherever we are needed because there are not many first responders about.”

Carla Dunbar, who is part of the Silver End group, but lives in Rivenhall, said she would love to see a group set up in Witham.

Attempts have been made, but they have failed because of a lack of numbers.

Explaining why he got involved, Mr Gymer said: “Volunteers are a dying breed and I wanted to give something back to the community.

“As soon as you mention the fact you do it for nothing people say ‘bye then’.

“If you are a first responder, you don’t have to give up your time for the whole day, you’re not tied down – you can do four hours a month or 12 hours a day, it’s up to you.”

The group in Silver End tries to be on call round the clock, and if the ambulance service calls, its members are ready to go.

All the members are basic trained, which takes two days, in oxygen therapy, using a defibrillator, basic life support and manual handling of a patient.

The only requirements are that volunteers are aged 18 to 80 and are fit enough to carry the kit bag, which weighs about 22kgs.

For more details on volunteering or setting up a group, call John Hopkins on 01245 443344.