Brian Curry
The Community Assistance Program (CAP) of the Arizona Fire & Medical Authority/Sun Lakes fire district is looking to add some new volunteers to the ranks of their “CR231” (Crisis Response) team.
The CAP program runs under the direction of the AFMA/Sun Lakes. Two-member teams are dispatched to medical calls, fires, motor vehicle accidents and other emergencies. While firefighters and medical personnel tend to the ill or injured, the CAP team works with other family members, friends or neighbors who need assistance.
This may involve anything from providing transportation to the hospital, telephoning family members, dealing with pets in the home or providing information about various agencies and resources that may help in a time of crisis, or sometimes just offering some calm conversation and emotional support.
Prospective CAP members must be in general good health, have a good driving record, pass a background check and be able to work three six-hour shifts and attend one monthly meeting within a calendar month. Training will be provided in CPR and first aid, driver training, radios and the use of the Mobile Computer Terminal that is used in CAP’s response vehicle.
Prospective recruits will be required to complete two preliminary ride-alongs with a working, on duty CAP team to learn how the team operates and to experience what a “typical” shift is like.
New to the CAP program is a still-developing membership that while not responding on emergency calls, would assist the fire district in a variety of ways. Different programs involving the installation of vehicle child seats, fire inspections and courier travel will be implemented in the future, all with the goal of assisting the fire and emergency medical care for Sun Lakes.
If you’d like to help your fellow Sun Lakers in their time of need and this type of community service interests you, contact the CAP team via email at [email protected] with your name and telephone number, and a Community Assistance Program member will get right back to you.