Department of Health

Key messages

  • The First Responder program involves simultaneous fire brigade and ambulance dispatch to cardiac arrest emergency calls.
  • The program operates within metropolitan Melbourne.

The First Responder program aims to reduce the amount of time taken to respond to life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest.

When a person experiences a cardiac arrest, or other life-threatening emergency, Ambulance Victoria paramedics and trained first responders such as MFB and CFA firefighters are dispatched to the patient at the same time.

MFB and CFA firefighters are trained in the initial management of critical cases, allowing patients to receive life-saving CPR and defibrillation at the earliest opportunity. They will provide emergency medical care until the ambulance paramedics arrive and take over.

Reviewed 05 October 2015

Health.vic

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