EMS Director Chris Miller, Cumberland County Fire Chief Trevor Kerley and Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster recently announced a Countywide First Responder Program, set to begin June 3. The new team consists of 32 trained personnel from the Cumberland County and Fairfield Glade Volunteer fire departments.

First responders are dispatched when an ambulance is called to provide care and sometimes life-saving interventions before paramedics arrive. A few of these services include rescue breathing, defibrillation and bleeding control. After an ambulance arrives, first responders can continue to assist in patient care and play an important role in scene management.