South East Coast Ambulance Service colleagues spent the weekend engaging with local communities and sharing potentially life-saving skills at two popular emergency services events in West Sussex.
Team members from Tangmere attended Selsey RNLI 999 Day on Saturday, 1 August before heading to Chichester 999 Day on Sunday, where they met hundreds of residents and visitors, offering CPR and basic life support demonstrations while highlighting the important role of the ambulance service.
With fewer than one in 10 people surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, early intervention by members of the public can make a critical difference. Bystander CPR and early defibrillation have been shown to more than double the chances of survival, which is why events such as these are so important in helping equip communities with the confidence and skills to act when every second counts.
Paramedic, Jemma Williams, spoke about attending Selsey: "It was fantastic to be part of such well-supported community events and have the opportunity to meet so many local people. It's a brilliant opportunity to showcase how emergency services work together in keeping people safe, whether that's on land or at sea.
"Community events give us the chance to share life-saving skills and help people gain the confidence to act in an emergency. You never know when CPR or basic life support knowledge could make a real difference and potentially save a life."
Representatives from SECAmb’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), The Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and other emergency service partners also attended Chichester 999 Day, offering interactive displays and demonstrations.
Deputy Head of Operations for Tangmere, Paul Fisher, said: "The communities we serve across Chichester and Selsey are incredibly varied, spanning rural areas, coastal locations and busy town centres, each with their own unique risks and challenges.
"Events like these allow us to connect directly with local people, answer questions and share practical skills that could one day save a life. By helping more people feel confident in responding during an emergency, we're working together to create safer, more resilient communities."
SECAmb would like to thank everyone who attended the events and took part in the CPR and basic life support demonstrations. Learning these skills can make a vital difference in an emergency and help save lives while ambulance crews are on their way.