Nine new volunteer community first responders have been trained and are ready to be dispatched by North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to emergencies in their local communities, after having passed their final exam.
Community first responders are often the first on the scene, and can play an important role in delivering early interventions for patients between a 999 call being made and the arrival of an ambulance.
Alex Mason, community resuscitation and development officer at NEAS, said: "We have 138 CFRs, whose role is crucial in providing early interventions in the first minutes of an emergency.
"Living within the communities they serve, they can often also be on scene first, providing basic life-saving support and initial treatment.
"We are extremely grateful for the support of our CFRs – they really do help save lives and they tell us that they also get a lot from supporting us because it gives them the chance to learn new skills and meet new people, whilst also serving their communities.
"We have volunteers from all walks of life; people who work full-time, part-time, retirees, veterans - no matter what your situation is, there’s something for everyone."
Volunteer roles offered by NEAS include ambulance car drivers, community ambassadors, and volunteer porters.
