hantspainreliefA valuable pain relief medicine has been used for the first time by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s co-responders when attending a medical emergency while an ambulance was en-route.

The pain relief medicine, Entonox, commonly known as ‘gas and air’, was first used by Firefighter Lee McDonald when he responded to a medical emergency in Bordon where a lady had fallen down the stairs, landing against her front door.

Firefighter McDonald said: “On arrival, the lady confirmed that she had leg and hip pain and so I couldn’t rule out a spinal injury. Luckily, I could open the door wide enough to get the Entonox to her. I was then able to talk to the lady as she used the Entonox and keep her calm while we waited for a fire appliance to help us get into the building to help her.”

Co-responders scheme vital to emergency services
Hampshire Fire and Rescue work in partnership with South Central Ambulance Service to deliver the co-responder scheme. The Co-responders, many of whom are Retained Firefighters, live in more isolated areas and so we can arrive on scene at medical emergencies before the ambulance service.

Station Manager Adrian Butt, Response Delivery, said: “The Co-responders scheme is vital to the work of the emergency services and enhances the strong partnership between Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and South Central Ambulance Service. It shows how, together, we are working to meet the current challenges facing the emergency services.

“In the last year, Co-responders have taken 9576 calls of which 1799 were for chest pain and 872 for falls. Having the use of Entonox now means that we can offer pain relief much faster to people with medical emergencies."