Volunteer first responder stunned as Westside community rally to buy medical kits
A VOLUNTEER community first responder has raised thousands of pounds to buy two medical kit bags after a huge fundraising effort from the Westside community.
Samantha Belokon-Dennis, from Bixter, opened a Crowdfunding page earlier this year to buy essential equipment for her voluntary role on behalf of Scottish Ambulance Service.
The two new kit bags are stocked with essential life-saving equipment including a defibrillator, monitoring equipment, O2 and airways equipment and a basic first aid kit.
The equipment will allow Belokon-Dennis to provide immediate care during any local medical emergencies, while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
She said the kits would give the Westside community rapid access to emergency care “when every second counts”.
“I am absolutely blown away by the incredible support from our local businesses and the Westside community,” she said.
“Being a first responder means being there for the patient in their darkest hours and giving the best care I possibly can until the ambulance arrives.
“Thanks to the amazing community, I now have two fully stocked kit bags ready to go. I cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity.”
Belokon-Dennis said that she had closed the Crowdfunding page after just a week because of the rapid response from local businesses and the community.
“I never thought I would achieve purchasing 1 AED (automated external defibrillator) with a kit bag, never mind two,” she said.
“It’s just amazing”.
To thank local donors and community members, Belokon-Dennis invited them to Lerwick ambulance station on Monday for a photograph to mark the achievement and showcase the new equipment.
Cooke Shetland was one of the major donors, and Christine Nicolson – their Yell processing factory manager and a member of their community benefit fund committee – said they were “delighted” to help.
“As a local salmon farming company with sites on the Westside and in the North Isles of Shetland, we are committed to building stronger communities and through our community benefit fund we were keen to support the fantastic service our community first responders provide on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service.”
If you want to become a community first responder you can apply here.
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