Our new president, Pat Moss, introduced our speakers, the Inkberrow First Responders with our own representative, Richard Shepherd, who is about to take up his posting.

We started our evening with the minutes being agreed. Members were reminded of outings, including the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and Bletchley Park.

Inkberrow’s First Responders were set up when the West Midlands authority realised that medical help was needed to get to patients faster when urgent attention is needed. They invited representatives from communities to come forward and so the service was set up. They are supplied with basic equipment but most of their supplies are funded by themselves.

At the start of each shift they book onto control in the ambulance station who then alert them to 999 calls. They attend where they are able to give help but not when specialist help is needed or there is a danger to themselves. They are given a 5 mile radius although this is often stretched. They can give oxygen to patients but are not qualified to administer medication. If the patient needs resuscitation they start chest compressions and can use a defibrillator if required.

In thanking the responders for their interesting demonstration it left us wondering whether we might need their services in the future. Their dedication, in time & money, to their work is amazing.

Our competition this month has been our funniest medical experience. The competitors read out their own stories which proved a very funny ending to our informative evening.