THE Gazette & Herald, in conjunction with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, is appealing for residents in Malton and Norton to become Community First Responders.

Following the success of our Pulse Appeal to buy defibrillators, we are looking for people who live in the two towns to become life-saving Community First Responders.

Recruits will form a voluntary scheme, co-ordinated and supported by the ambulance service, which provides immediate medical care to members of the community in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrives.

Community First Responders are trained in basic life-support, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and oxygen therapy. They will be equipped with a kit provided through the money raised by the Pulse Appeal.

The kits include oxygen and an automated external defibrillator (AED) to help patients in a medical emergency such as a heart attack, collapse or breathing difficulties.

More than 2,500 dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers work alongside Yorkshire Ambulance Service and, last year, attended more than 5,700 patients with life-threatening conditions alongside ambulance crews, including many suffering cardiac arrest.

Malton and Norton are the only towns in the area that do not have a team of First Responders.

Neil Marsay, community defibrillation officer at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “We know that in many medical emergencies the first few minutes are critical and if effective treatment can be performed within those minutes, lives can be saved and disability reduced.

“Being part of this initiative can be extremely rewarding and I would encourage anyone who may be interested in helping their local community to take on the role.”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service will provide full training to successful applicants who must be over the age of 18, physically fit and hold a full driving licence. Candidates will also be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact the Network Response Team at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, phone 0845 120 3155 or email responders@yas.nhs.uk

Alternatively anyone wishing to register their interest in becoming a Community First Responder can phone the Gazette & Herald on 01653 695600.