PEOPLE in Pewsey looking for a worthy cause to volunteer for are being encouraged to become Community First Responders.

CFRs take action when emergency 999 calls come in on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service.

Andy Stride, of Bailey Close, is one of three CFRs working in Pewsey and has been in the role for six years – starting in Berkshire where he used to live.

He said: “Generally speaking our role is to get to the scene and provide initial assessment for the patient and treat them within our defined scope of practice.

“We get fantastic support we get from South Western Ambulance Service.

“We are a rural community and South West Ambulance Service can’t have ambulances everywhere that would be able to respond within the eight minute target they have for critical care so we provide that role.”

The eight minute Government target applies to all ambulance services around the country and the South Western Ambulance Service needs to respond to 75 per cent of critical care calls in this time frame.

CFRs attend cardiac arrests, chest pains, breathing difficulties, unconscious patients, fits and strokes.

Successful applicants take part in a three-day training course where they learn about patient assessment, respiration and airway management, basic life support, defibrillation, circulation and shock, medical related emergencies, trauma related emergencies and pre-hospital environment.

Mr Stride, who is purchasing manager for WH Smith, said: “The target is to have a Community First Responder available 24-7 and to do that we probably need 10 or 12 active members in the group.

“If we could do that in Pewsey it would be absolutely fantastic. We would love more people to be involved in this very worthwhile activity.

“We’re looking for people like myself who work full-time and do this out of hours, people who are self-employed who can potentially give some time in the day and also retired people because age is not a factor in this.”

Volunteers are asked to do a minimum of 12 hours a weeks but Mr Stride chooses to work at least 36 hours and on average is called out two or three times in this period.

He said: “I love it. I get loads out of it. You meet some wonderful people.

“It’s a strange situation because in order for me to do what I want to do somebody else has to be unwell.

“I love seeing people in a much better situation when I leave than they have been when they called us, it’s amazing.

“Sometimes just being there you can see not only the patients themselves but the family around them relax because they see that there’s someone that can help them.”

For more information visit www.jobs.nhs.uk or call (01392) 261647.