Scottish Ambulance Service Community Resilience

07/01/2026

Date for the diary 🗓️⬇️

📣 SAVE the DATE 🚨
Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium 2026 is coming back to Edinburgh on 21st May 2026
Save the date and don't miss out 🙌
venue and tickets info 👉 https://www.scas.scot/

25/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Merry Christmas from the Community Resilience Team

Well that’s a wrap on our “Responders Unwrapped: Christmas Countdown”. We hope you have enjoyed reading about all the fantastic work & efforts our volunteers put in day in, and day out. Maybe you’ve recognised a few faces in some photos- we encourage you to reach out to each other & within your communities and continue the fantastic work that’s ongoing.

From all of us in the Community Resilience Team, a huge THANK YOU for everything you do, we simply couldn’t do it without you.

Wishing all our volunteers & their families a wonderful, peaceful festive season.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,

Community Resilience Team

24/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 7- At the Heart of Their Communities

Our Community Responders aren’t just answering calls- they’re an integral part of the places they live. Every response, every training session, and every conversation builds trust and resilience.

Working alongside our colleagues from the emergency services, universities, St John’s Scotland and initiatives such as Save a Life for Scotland, & Restart a Heart Day, we share a common vision:

✅ Keeping people safe
✅ Empowering others with life-saving skills
✅ Building stronger, more prepared communities

Together, we can create a network of care that reaches every corner of Scotland- making sure support and life saving skills & equipment are never far away.

23/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 6- Community Resilience Team Volunteers

We support two types of volunteer responders:

First up, our Community First Responders (CFRs). Dispatched by ambulance control, CFRs often arrive before an ambulance to provide life-saving care in the first critical minutes. From cardiac arrests and strokes to breathing difficulties and severe allergic reactions, they act fast with the right skills and equipment. They also update ambulance control on patient condition, helping prioritise urgent responses. Quick thinking, skilled care, and local knowledge- CFRs make a real difference every day.

Next we have our Community Cardiac Responders (CCRs).
CCRs respond to cardiac arrest calls within a 10km radius, delivering rapid CPR and defibrillation when available. What began as a small group of ‘Wildcat’ responders is now growing into a Scotland-wide network, recently expanding into Dumfries & Galloway. Every local response increases someone’s chance of survival.

Our volunteers go above and beyond to keep communities safe.

22/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 5- Kit Bags at the Ready

For our Community Responders, preparation goes beyond the call.

Every shift starts with a fully checked kit bag- AED, oxygen, PPE, and essential supplies.
Many kits are possible thanks to the extra efforts of responders who fundraise and rally local support within communities. Every raffle ticket sold, every donation collected, and every conversation about the importance of Community Responders, helps turn community support into potentially saving a life.

It’s not expected, but it shows the dedication and care that define our Community Responders. Thank you to those who go the extra mile to make sure everything is ready when someone needs help most.

21/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 4 – Public Access Defibrillators

Alongside responding to emergencies, some of our Community Responders choose to support their communities by fundraising for, installing, and maintaining Public Access Defibrillators (PADs).

From checking that they are emergency ready, reporting faults, and updating The Circuit (National Defibrillator Network), their extra effort ensures these devices are ready when seconds count. It’s not expected as part of their Community Responder role, but it can make a real difference.

Find out more about The Circuit: https://www.thecircuit.uk/

(Photo by Sarah Allan)

20/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 3- Local Awareness Sessions

Community Responders aren’t just answering calls – they’re supporting Scotland to save lives.

Every CPR session, defib demo, and awareness event builds confidence and skills so that if the worst happens, someone nearby knows what to do – because of them.

From schools to sports clubs, and community groups, they give people the tools to act in those critical first minutes before help arrives.

✅ Immediate bystander CPR can double or triple the chance of survival
✅ Every person who learns these skills is another potential lifesaver

Thank you to everyone who gives up their time to share their lifesaving skills and knowledge.

19/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 2- Ready to Respond

Community Responders check their kit, put on their hi-vis, and stand ready to give their communities reassurance and safety, attending a variety of medical emergencies.
When the radio goes off, they bring calm to chaos and life-saving care- in urban streets, rural glens, remote islands across Scotland.

Our Community Responders go the extra mile to make sure help gets there when it matters most.

18/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped:
Day 1- Supporting Local Communities

From checking in on neighbours to answering 999 calls, they bring comfort, reassurance, and life-saving care- especially during the festive season.

Here’s what they do:

✅ Respond to emergencies, often arriving before an ambulance
✅ Maintain Public Access Defibrillators (PADs)
✅ Deliver CPR and defib awareness sessions
✅ Support local health and resilience projects

Every action strengthens the bond between SAS and the communities we serve. This Christmas, we celebrate their dedication and compassion that truly make a difference.

17/12/2025

Responders Unwrapped: A Christmas Countdown

As we approach Christmas, we’re unwrapping something special, and highlighting the work of our volunteer community responders - the people who quietly show up, offer support, and help keep their communities safe.

Over the next 7 days, we’ll share a bit about what our volunteers do and recognise the various efforts of those who respond to emergencies, share life-saving skills, and support their local communities.

It’s not about grand gestures - it’s about consistency, care, and the difference made by ordinary people doing something extraordinary.

Stay tuned to see what makes our community responders so special.

(Upcoming photos courtesy of our awesome volunteers & staff)

09/12/2025

Last month, we received over 64,500 emergency calls.

We treated more than half of these without taking patients to hospital through our clinical hub, management on scene, and alternative pathways. Excellent work from our teams across Scotland.

Please use our services wisely and call NHS 24 on 111 for anything that isn't life-threatening 💚

03/12/2025

Well Done to Helensburgh and Lomond CFR Team, well deserved 👏🥳