Fire crews on call in heart-attack cases

FIREFIGHTERS will be helping to deliver life-saving care for heart-attack patients as part of new scheme.

In a joint initiative with the North-West Ambulance Service, crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue will be able to respond to 999 calls involving a suspected cardiac arrest from today.

If firefighters reach the casualty first they will start life-saving treatment in advance of the ambulance’s arrival.

Derek Cartwright, NWAS director of operations, said: “This is an extremely positive project and it’s great to work with GMFRS on a scheme that will contribute to saving lives here in the Greater Manchester.

“The chances of survival from cardiac arrest diminish rapidly with every passing second so the sooner someone can receive treatment, the greater their chances are of leading a full and healthy life afterwards. It doesn’t matter who gives that treatment — a member of the public, an ambulance crew or a fire crew.”

Last year the ambulance service responded to 5,486 incidents in Greater Manchester where the patient had suffered a cardiac arrest.