Urgent call for more life savers

Ambulance chiefs are appealing for more volunteers to be trained up to respond to medical emergencies in the Welshpool area.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it wanted more Community First Responders (CFRs) throughout the county. There are currently more than 100 CFR teams in Wales.

All volunteers will be trained by the ambulance service to administer basic first aid, oxygen therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator.

Steve Roberts, first responder officer at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "Many of our volunteers have taken experiences that life has thrown at them, such as seeing a loved one suffer a heart attack, and have moulded them into a positive outlook to help family, friends and neighbours.

"The faster life support skills get to a patient facing a life threatening scenario the better their outlook is, a prognosis all our Community First Responders are ready and willing to support."

Mr Roberts added: "You can make a big difference by just carrying out a few simple skills that we can teach you.

"If you are proud of the community in which you live, becoming a first responder can really help the heart of your village or town keeping beating long into the future."

Elwyn Price-Morris, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said CFRs played an important role alongside frontline ambulance staff in making sure patients received appropriate help quickly and efficiently.

As well as Welshpool, CFRs are wanted in Brecon, Ystradgynlais, Crickhowell, Newtown, Llanfyllin, Llanidloes, Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells.

Prospective CFRs volunteers are inviited to email amb_first.responder.central@wales.nhs.uk for an application pack.