Gareth Davies MP has commented on the importance of first aid training after meeting with Nikki Cooke, CEO of the charity Lincolnshire LIVES. Founded in 1970, LIVES provides training courses in basic first aid and CPR for up to 20,000 people each year alongside their broader role as providers of 'immediate care'.
This includes a Community Emergency Medicine team with three cars equipped with doctors or senior practitioners able to respond directly to 999 calls and provide treatment in peoples' homes without the need to be admitted to hospital. Gareth also heard about the success of their new Fall Response team, a group of 13 full time responders who are trained in treating elderly people who have fallen at home and require aftercare.
Commenting, Gareth said:
'LIVES provides a vital service, especially in our rural communities through their specialist response teams, as well as equipping others with first aid knowledge, giving people confidence to help in a situation where somebody is ill or injured.
I have pledged to support a future campaign to bring new first aid training courses to schools and village halls across our local area as the administration of immediate first aid has been proven to be the difference between life and death in countless situations'.