Emergency volunteers face insurance levy with companies accused of 'putting lives at risk'

Insurance companies have been accused of “putting lives at risk” by loading levies of up to 20% on premiums for motorists who volunteer to respond to medical emergencies in their communities.

Community First Responders (CFRs) are civilian responders who are trained to deal with emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes. There are some 150 first responder schemes around the country, which are linked with the National Ambulance Service.

However, while CFRs are automatically dispatched along with ambulances to an emergency, CFR Ireland, the National Community First Responder Network, said that volunteers are now finding that levies are imposed on their premiums when they seek car insurance.