THE LIFESAVING Co-responders scheme is here to stay in Lyme Regis, but fire chiefs say they can't fund similar schemes throughout Dorset because they cost too much. Dorset's chief fire officer, Martin Chapman, said this week that the Co- responders in Lyme Regis - firefighters who attend medical emergencies until paramedics get there - have been a resounding success and helped to save scores of lives. And he recommended that the scheme should continue and other firefighters be trained, but he says it can only go county- wide if Dorset Ambulance Trust is willing to pay for it because the financial burden on the fire service would be too great. Ambulance chiefs would like to see it operating in other rural areas, including Maiden Newton, Beaminster, Bere Regis, Charmouth, Sturminster Newton, Gillingham and Verwood. The Co-responder scheme has been operating in Lyme since April and is funded by both Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Ambulance Trust, although the fire service contributes the bigger share, including paying the fire fighters. Six firefighters in Lyme Regis, led by chief sub officer Virgil Turner, have been trained so far and they have dealt with almost 80 emergencies ranging from asthma attacks to cardiac arrests. Mr Turner told the News he was pleased that the scheme would carry on in the town. He said: We're really pleased we can carry on. Obviously, we'd like to see fund ing become available for other stations because it has been so beneficial to our community. It's a shame." The deputy chief executive of Dorset Ambulance Trust, Roger Ferre, agreed that the Lyme pilot had been an out standing success. He said: "In human terms, the prompt response is without price since the com bination of early firefighter response combined with paramedic back-up ensures that patients in a life-threaten ing situation receive prompt treatment." Thanks to the Lyme pilot, firefighters have raised the level of Category A responses from 38 per cent to 73 per cent compared with the same period last year. Mr Chapman said: "The pilot scheme can be considered a resounding success due to the commitment of the station personnel, who have given a significant time contribution, to the detriment of their personal lives."
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