Oxford Medical First Responders

We are a volunteer organisation run by Oxford University Medical School students who live and work within Oxford city. Working in partnership with the Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust, we respond to life threatening medical incidents within our area, providing essential care to patients in the crucial minutes before an ambulance arrives.

What do we do?

OMFR is comprised of volunteers from Oxford University Medical School who live and work within Oxford city. We will be working in partnership with the Oxfordshire Ambulance Service to life-threatening medical incidents within our area, providing essential care to patients in the crucial minutes before an ambulance arrives. We, the volunteers, will be notified of emergencies occurring within our area and will endeavour to reach the location of the incident within 6 minutes (sounds short but easily achievable).

Why are these first few minutes important?

Brain death and permanent death start to occur in just 4 to 6 minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest. If cardiac arrest is reversed with defibrillation within 5 to 7 minutes, the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is as high as 30-45 percent. A victim's chances of survival are reduced by 7 to 10 percent with every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation. Few attempts at resuscitation succeed after 10 minutes. Have a look at the chain of survival for more info.

How can I help?

OMFR relies on donations to operate. Please consider supporting us in any way.

I'm a medical student at Oxford, can I get involved?

We currently need volunteers. We're having a information session on Friday 22nd February for potential volunteers. If you can't come then drop us an email.

This is a great opportunity to make a real difference to patients lives, and also gain valuable clinical experience responding to medical emergencies such as heart attack, cardiac arrest, trauma. For some this may sound a bit scary but in the few moments there is hardly any time to be worried and there will usually be another volunteer with you. Importantly, there is never an obligation for any volunteer to respond to a call, and an ambulance will ALWAYS come to the scene to take over.

I'm a medical student at Oxford, why should I join OMFR?

• Respond to life threatening emergencies, and manage them until the ambulance arrives.
• Make a real difference to the patients outcome
• Gain proficiency using defibrillators, O2 equipment, dealing with trauma incidents...
• All training and insurance provided
• Perk: OMFR volunteers can go on ambulance shifts at any time if they want more experience of pre-hospital care.