Alderney has a new team of volunteer Emergency Responders, trained to support the ambulance service in the island.

The seven volunteers, who come from a variety of backgrounds, are equipped with an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and other medical and first aid equipment, so they can respond to life-threatening medical calls in their immediate vicinity, in a similar way to Community First Responders in Guernsey. In the future, the team will be deployed for critical and major incidents in Alderney to provide additional resilience for the ambulance service.

 The introduction of the Alderney Emergency Responders follows a successful recruitment campaign and a period of on-island training by staff from Guernsey’s Ambulance and Rescue service, which took on responsibility for ambulance provision in Alderney in April 2023. Ambulance and Rescue now employs four full time paid Emergency Ambulance Crew who work on a rota basis ensuring 24/7 operational cover. 

Chief Executive Officer of Guernsey’s Ambulance and Rescue service, Mark Mapp explained: “The initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to Alderney and is part a wider phased strategy to develop resilience for the island. It builds on the establishment of the new ambulance service, which became operational in April last year.  I am delighted to welcome the new volunteer Emergency Responders to the team. They have all demonstrated a desire to make a difference in their community, and with their training, new skills and equipment they will be a valuable asset to the island.”