Lunchtime Speaker – Connor Maher – Woking First Responders

Conor Maher from Woking Community First Responders (WCFR) was the speaker at our meeting. WCFR are an award-winning team of volunteers who are trained to respond to emergency calls through the 999 system in conjunction with the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Conor explained how they are based within the community and surrounding areas of Woking. They are able to attend the scene of an emergency in a very short time - often within the first few minutes- and in the majority of incidents they would be first on scene. The responder can then begin vital life-saving first aid before the arrival of an ambulance, further increasing the patient’s chance of survival. WCFR are a critical element in the “Chain of Survival” for cardiac arrest patients. The Rotary Club of Woking has been one of the largest and most consistent source of funding for the WCFR over the years. Fundraising helps towards the cost of £2,000 to equip a newly trained CFR, with each defibrillator costing £1,300.