Volunteer NOW and help save a life

THE South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has launched a recruitment drive for volunteers who could quite literally mean the difference between life or death for people in Somerset.

The Trust has the aim of providing the highest standards of patient care and deliver the right care in the right place at the right time.

In order to help achieve its goal, the Trust has a launched a recruitment drive in Somerset to increase its number of Community Emergency First Responders who respond and attend certain life threatening 999 calls.

These individuals deliver emergency treatment including basic life support, while the ambulance is on its way.

A patient who suffered a cardiac arrest stands an 85 per cent chance of survival if they are treated immediately. These odds decrease by 10 per cent with every minute that passes without treatment.

An Ambulance Service spokesman said: ''Community First Responders are local volunteers that have been recruited and trained by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. These Responders are based in towns and villages across the area and attend large numbers of medical emergencies every month.

''Most of the incidents that the Responders attend are in remote areas of the South West that can be challenging to reach by the ambulance service in the fastest possible time.

''Once on the scene of an incident Responders provide basic life support, defibrillation and other vital first aid until the arrival of a front line emergency ambulance.''

All Community First Responders receive uniform and training which includes dealing with life threatening emergencies and includes oxygen therapy and use of defibrillator.

Applicants from across the entire county are welcome with specific areas being in Chard, Tatworth, Crewkerne, Frome, Ilminster, Isle Abbotts, Langport, Martock, Merriott, Minehead, Somerton, Street, Watchet, Wellington, Wells and Wincanton.

Anyone that is interested in this exciting volunteering opportunity and be part of this rewarding lifesaving scheme should go online and visit www.jobs.nhs.uk .

The recruitment drive is running up to February 22.

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