CAN you stay calm under pressure? Do you have four hours a week to spare? A life-saving ambulance scheme is looking for local volunteers to help out in an emergency.

St John Cymru-Wales Haverfordwest division has set up a First Responder scheme to deal with 999 calls in Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Neyland and surrounding areas.

Set up by long-standing St John member Aaron Matthews, the scheme involves working in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust to respond to emergency calls.

Aaron felt that the skills and knowledge he had learnt over those years could be put to use to save lives in his local community.

“I wanted to make a difference and help people who needed emergency medical assistance within my home town,” said Aaron.

The current team consists of eight volunteers who give up their free time and make themselves available to the ambulance service to respond to these emergency calls.

Members are trained to provide patients with essential, safe and prompt treatment to include oxygen therapy, basic first aid, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator.

They also receive additional training in diagnostic skills such as blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, which is updated regularly to keep skills at a high standard.

Elwyn Price-Morris, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “Community First Responders play an important role alongside frontline ambulance staff and make sure the patients get appropriate help quickly and effectively.”

To join the Haverfordwest First Responder Scheme, email Aaron Matthews at haverfordwestfirstresponders@hotmail.co.uk. All new members must be 18 or older, have a clean driving licence, and be in reasonably good health.

Alternatively, to make a donation towards this valuable life saving scheme, visit www.haverfordwestfirstresponders.weebly.com.