Firefighters Join Ambulance Crews in Race to Save Lives Across Rural Norfolk
Norfolk’s life-saving duo of ambulance and fire services just got even stronger. A groundbreaking partnership that trains firefighters to respond to medical emergencies has expanded, now covering more rural parts of the county. The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has teamed up with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service to add three new fire stations to the co-response scheme — taking the total to seven.
New Stations Step Up in Hunstanton, Heacham & Sandringham
The latest recruits to the scheme are fire crews from Hunstanton, Heacham, and Sandringham. Aylsham fire station is also set to join soon. These on-call firefighters now provide lightning-fast medical aid in rural areas, especially during critical emergencies like cardiac arrests — where every tick of the clock counts.
Fast Response Saves Lives
Last year alone, Norfolk’s co-responding firefighters turned out for 42 of the county’s most serious emergencies, including life-threatening cardiac arrests. They arrived first in an impressive 45% of those calls, beating ambulances to the scene by nearly 3 minutes on average. This speed could mean the difference between life and death, particularly across Norfolk’s remote communities where ambulance wait times tend to be longer.
Tom Barker, Head of Collaborative Response at EEAST, said: “It is great to see our co-response partnership with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service expanding, with three additional fire stations coming on board. This brings the total number of co-responder fire stations in Norfolk to seven, with the eighth station in Aylsham expected to go live shortly. Our collaboration with the fire service is all about getting medical help to people who need it as quickly as possible.”
Defibrillators Now at Rural Fire Stations
On top of this, EEAST has donated 10 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, installing them at rural fire stations. These lifesaving devices are available for public use during cardiac arrests, boosting survival chances dramatically.
The growing list of co-response fire stations now also includes Sheringham, Cromer, North Walsham, and Dereham — reinforcing emergency cover across Norfolk’s countryside.
This partnership marks a major boost for public safety in Norfolk’s rural heartlands, delivering vital, lifesaving care faster than ever before.
