Community first responders launch campaign for emergency lifting chairs for people who have falls

Wrexham Rural Community First Responders (CFR) have launched a crowd funding campaign to buy two emergency lifting chairs for people who have falls.

The number of people calling an ambulance after a fall at home is increasing especially as the population age increases.

In the past nine months community first responders in the area were called to 256 reports of falls – with 255 of these not requiring an ambulance after assessment.

Local responders are now looking to raise enough funds to purchase two Raizer Emergency Lifting Chairs at a cost of £3100 each. They are also seeking a grant from a community scheme run by Calor Gas.

The chairs are designed mechanically to pick up from the floor, including patients who have fallen and are unable to get themselves up unaided.

CFRs are trained to use the chair, there is no risk to patient or CFR, and it only requires one person to operate it. If a CFR is able to lift an unhurt person from the floor it is possible that no emergency ambulance will be required, a time and financial saving to the ambulance service.

Currently CFRs in Wrexham Rural Team have access to two Mangar Camel, which although easy to use, are heavy, bulky, distressingly noisy, and need an eight hour charge after only two lifts.

Though the Camels will continue in use, with two additional lifting chairs available there Wrexham Rural CFRs say there could be a considerably reduced delay helping a faller, in addition to the capacity to extract and lift patients located in awkward places, e.g. between bed and wall.

Wrexham Rural CFRs’ says it sees its role as “helping the WAST to provide the best pre-hospital care for the residents of our local communities”.

It adds: “The whole community and the ambulance service are fully supportive of the CFR scheme and are grateful for their quick response.

“The ambulance service provides outstanding training and administration, including for lifting equipment, whilst community councils, local businesses and organisations, and the public make donations which help cover the £1200 cost of the essential equipment each individual CFR needs, plus capital expenditure on bigger items.

“Practical help is available, too: for example, one piece of lifting equipment is currently located at an hotel providing 24 hour access.”

You can vote for Wrexham Rural First Responders and help them meet their target here.