The next step on my Community First Responder (CFR) journey is to go along to a SCAS (South Central Ambulance Service) assessment evening, where they will finalise a few of the checks required for this role.

Most of these are administrative checks that I have no fear or thought I will fail, such as

• Driving licence check – requirement is less than 6 points, I currently have 0
• Data Barring and Security check (DBS)
• Uniform sizing
• Photo for identification

The thing missing from the above list is

• A basic life support assessment
  • CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
  • AED (Automatic external defibrillator)

Now I have passed first aid certification numerous times before, but not for a long while, and things it would seem have changed. This assessment is not meant to be so much a “can you do perfect CPR?” more rather, watch this video, retain the information, and show us how well it stays in your head.

This goes for both aspects of the assessment.

The thing I am struggling with the most is, last time I did a CPR course we still performed rescue breaths and compressions to a ratio of 2:30 (breaths:compressions) but based on the video, breaths are no longer included.

Now I will of course do what the video says, and wait for the formal training to ask the questions about rescue breaths (assuming it doesn’t come up). But it is a difference and one that surprises me a little. I look forward to understanding why this was dropped.

The AED equipment is all new to me, so is the part I am most worried about retaining in an assessment situation, but I guess that is why they are assessing me and will make a judgement call if I balls up. It still seems pretty simple so I am only a tiny bit worried.