Sandy is here to help save lives

Buy photos » Dave Tew, Redditch CFR Scheme co-ordinator, Steve Tarry, CFR, Sandy Potter, paramedic team leader and CFR James Nicholls with Sandy the car. Picture courtesy of West Midlands Ambulance Service (s).

VOLUNTEER lifesavers in Redditch will now be able to get to emergencies quicker after buying their first response car which they have named in honour of a town paramedic.

The Fiat Punto is being used by Redditch Community First Responders (CFRs), a group of nine everyday members of the public, trained by West Midland Ambulance Service in lifesaving techniques and sent to emergencies to begin treatment while the ambulance crew is en-route.

Rather than travel in their own cars in future, volunteers will now be able to use the Punto which was bought at auction for £600. After taking delivery of the car, volunteers decided to name it Sandy in honour of paramedic Sandra Potter.

Dave Tew, scheme co-ordinator, said: "Sandra is brilliant. She takes us out on observational shifts and we learn so much, in addition to the training we get from the ambulance service."

Sandy said: "It is a real privilege to have the car named after me. All I’ve done is support them since they started. We have a good rapport. What they do is excellent and so is the fact that they went out and raised the money for this car.”

Donations can be made to Redditch CFRs by sending a cheque payable to Redditch Community First Responders, CFR Admin Office, Shrewsbury Ambulance Station, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6LX.