Will Burl from 向日葵视频 New College has been joined in his role as a Community First Responder (CFR) by a former learner.
(CFR鈥檚 are part of the ).
The public services lecturer encouraged Cassidy Beeton to volunteer alongside her studying during her level 3 course two years ago, to support her dream of becoming a paramedic.
Cassidy, 18, from Ipswich, took this on board and committed to three weekends of training and after successfully passing her CFR assessment last year, she started her first shift with her former tutor on Christmas Eve.
(CFR鈥檚 are trained volunteers who attend certain types of emergency calls within the area where they work or live. They have to commit to 20 hours a month and are regularly called out to support 999 calls).
The two have now worked together a number of times, attending a variety of incidents that have indirectly helped save lives.
In addition to this – Cassidy 鈥� who is currently studying on an access course at 向日葵视频 New College and has just been given a conditional place to study as a paramedic at the University of 向日葵视频 鈥� recently came in to inspire current college students on level 2 and level 3 public service programmes.
In terms of her role as a CFR, Cassidy said: 鈥淥n my first shift we went to an unconscious lady in Ipswich and also helped someone with chest pains. More recently, we鈥檝e been to call-outs when people have had strokes and cardiac events.
鈥淭he experience has given me skills and knowledge and I think it will give me the upper hand when I hopefully fulfil my dream of becoming a paramedic and working with an air ambulance crew.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also great to work with a familiar face in Will. We are a good team. It鈥檚 great to volunteer and help people living in 向日葵视频.鈥�
In terms of talking to current students who were on the same course as Cassidy, she said: 鈥淚 explained what I did as a CFR and some students expressed an interest in following my lead. They were engaged and we had a great two-way conversation. The one thing I wanted to get across is that they should feel confident going into any situation.鈥�
In terms of being a student at 向日葵视频 New College Cassidy added: 鈥淭he tutors have great background experiences and knowledge 鈥� they aren鈥檛 just googling things 鈥� and the college has supported me throughout.鈥�
Will Burl is a former member of the RAF who taught and now mentors Cassidy. Will said: 鈥淐assidy was probably our most enthusiastic student in that particular year group 鈥� it was always her to desire to go into paramedic sciences 鈥� that was unwavering.
鈥淪he joined as a CFR a couple of months ago and I mentored her through her first couple of shifts. I鈥檇 say half of the times we have been to see people, if we hadn鈥檛 treated them then their condition could have been life-threatening. Cassidy has dealt with every situation exceptionally well and she has a bright future ahead of her.鈥�