A YEAR on from Cumbria Community First Responders calling for volunteers to set up a group in Appleby, the first six members are being trained.

The volunteers are being trained, under Cumbria Ambulance Service guidance, in Basic Life Support skills and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator to keep a patient in a viable condition until an ambulance arrives. Once qualified, the new responders will form part of the Murton cum Hilton team and all members will be mobilised together should an emergency incident occur.

Fund-raising is well advanced for Appleby's own defibrillator and associated equipment. Age Concern, Appleby, has led the way, with a donation of £2,000. In addition to the equipment costs, the team need approximately £1,200 annually for running expenses.

On Sunday, August 15, the Mayor of Appleby, Coun Frank Harland, drew the winning numbers in the opening First Responders 100 Plus Club lottery monthly draw, membership having ensured the team's costs would be met for the next year. He also said that while six people had come forward from Appleby as volunteers, there was still room for more to join the team and provide an even better service for Appleby and district. Dennis can be contacted for more information on 52935.

A Community First response Scheme is made up from volunteers who live, or work, within a community or village, and have been trained to attend certain emergency 999 calls by Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust, to provide emergency first aid, until ambulance arrives.

Community First Responder Co-ordinator Elaine Alston told The Messenger: "Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust believes that, by introducing a scheme where Community First Responders are trained in providing Basic Life Support and early defibrillation, there would be a significant improvement in the chances of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest.

"In a rural area like Cumbria, it takes time for ambulances to reach a call and the work done by local volunteers in a Community First Response Scheme, done while waiting for the ambulance, can save lives. Currently there is no such cover in Appleby or Shap. These are two key areas where we would hope to set up a scheme."

Crosby Ravensworth Parish Responders will celebrate their third anniversary of "going live" on November 5 this year. Their team of 26 members not all of whom are on call out need to raise a minimum of £200 per year to finance the call out pages and equipment.

Co-ordinator of Crosby Ravensworth Parish Responders Valerie Winterburn said: "We are continually fund-raising throughout the year to finance the pagers, additional medical equipment and hall rental where regular practices are held.

"We receive on-going training from Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust, with training and assessment every six months. We are looking to start training with oxygen, but there are the issues of storage, precautions and refill to access first, though it is a very valuable medical item.

"It is invaluable for the community just to know there is someone close by who they can call on for help in a medical emergency. Being a First responder is an altruistic act, you are there to help friends, family, anyone in your local community."

Elaine said: "Just having someone there who is calm is invaluable for patients in an emergency. The trained First Responders are also able to quickly hand-over information with background details to the ambulance crew when they arrive."