FIVE more people have volunteered to give up their time to help save the lives of others.

South Central Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed new members Tony D’arcy from Farnham Common, Janet Smith from Wooburn green, Jenny Owen from Wraysbury, David Edge from Marlow and Sophia Maiden from Datchet to its team of Community First Responders.

The new volunteers attended a two-day training course with paramedic training officer Marc Lister at Wexham Ambulance Station on Saturday, September 12, and Saturday, September 19.

During the training, the team’s new additions shadowed a shift on a frontline emergency response car and then worked with existing Community First Responders until they were happy to attend emergencies on their own.

These volunteers support the ambulance service by attending life threatening emergencies.

They can usually arrive before the ambulance, due to the fact that they often live very close to the emergency, therefore they can start helping the patient sooner than would normally be possible.

Community First Responders are trained in delivering effective cardio pulmonary resuscitation, on adults and children, using an automated external defibrillator safely, using oxygen, how to recognise heart attacks, strokes, seizures, diabetic emergencies and choking, and how to help the patient during the initial stages until the ambulance arrives.

They volunteer their time whenever they have a spare few hours, day or night and respond from home so it has very little impact on their normal day to day life, and is very flexible.

If you would like to volunteer to become a Community First Responder or would like to donate to support their efforts, email cfr@scas.nhs.uk or call 08005870207.