Why volunteer
Our scheme is primarily open to medical and healthcare students. However, we will consider applications from other students who demonstrate the required commitment and interest in our scheme, including a minimum of two years volunteering and 15 hours per month.
As a CFR, you will be able to:
- Support people in your local community at their time of need
- Get hands-on experience caring for patients early in their illness
- Experience working in areas of Leeds outside the ‘student bubble’
- Work with and learn from ambulance crews in acute settings
- Join a close-knit team of medical and healthcare students from all years
- Attend our CPD sessions on topics relevant to emergency medicine and prehospital care
Training
All prospective volunteers must apply during our annual recruitment process in the autumn. If successful they must complete YAS’ mandatory CFR paperwork requirements (including an enhanced DBS check) and attend and pass an initial training course. Revalidation occurs annually. More details are available at www.cfrleeds.org.uk.
Meetings
We hold monthly CPD events for volunteers to enhance and practice their skills. We cover both topics that are relevant to the CFR scope of practice and more general topics in prehospital care. Past topics have included:
- Resuscitation ‘pitstop’ masterclass
The short of breath patient
Conflict resolution skills
Volunteering at multi-agency major incident exercises
ED handover
Introduction to prehospital advanced life support
Vehicle Extrication
ECG masterclass
Membership
Full volunteer membership is only open to those who have trained or are training as YAS CFRs.
However, anyone is welcome to join us as a Supporter Member and attend a selection of our CPD events and other training sessions.