For more than a decade, the Community Medics volunteers have been saving lives across the city, and they hope to continue doing so, but they need your help.
The non-profit organisation works around the clock to provide free emergency medical care to those who need it.
According to Community Medics spokeswoman Jolene Page, the organisation was registered in 2007 after two paramedics saw the need for emergency medical services in the Camps Bay area.
Originally known as Camps Bay Community Medics, it has since expanded to cover other parts of Cape Town with 50 volunteers, whose training ranges from first aid to intermediate and advanced life support.
However, donor funding has waned since the start of the pandemic, and Ms Page said they were appealing to the public or corporates for any donations that could help to cover petrol, medical equipment and insurance costs.
Community Medics helps people of all income levels without billing the patients as “we are all equal”, and it had even helped a Great Dane that collapsed in August last year, said Ms Page.
To raise funds, some volunteers have become waiters for the evening at various Spurs where they receive donations for the organisation. Volunteers also visit shopping centres where they do CPR demonstrations and blood-pressure checks.
The non-profit’s 24-hour response vehicles cover Camps Bay, Green Point, Sea Point, Cape Town CBD, Bo-Kaap, Higgovale, Tamboerskloof, Vredehoek, Milnerton, Table View, Parklands and Melkbosstrand.
Community Medics is also looking for volunteers with a minimum medical qualification of Basic Ambulance Assistant and who are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Volunteers should also have code 8 or 10 driver’s licence.
Call Kim Norton at 082 330 5352, email fundraising@communitymedics.org.za or visit the organisation’s BackaBuddy page to make a donation. Email volunteer@communitymedics.org.za if you want to volunteer.
In case of an emergency, contact Community Medics at 087 230 0404.
