A VITAL medical service is close to collapse, as volunteer numbers fall to unprecedented levels.

Aspatria Community First Responders is down to two volunteers, who attend between 30 and 40 calls each month across the town.

They provide a vital service to residents, and can be the first people on site during a medical emergency.

Now, due to retirements and problems with recruitment, a once seven-strong team is down to two.

Alyson Mitchell has been a first responder for the last 11 years.

She said: “About five/six years ago we had about seven people. Because people have now reached retirement age, we are having such a problem recruiting new people.

“We can have between 30 and 40 calls a month, it is a lot. We both work on a volunteer basis, we just put our pagers on when we are ready to work.”

There can often be times when demand outstrips supply.

“That does happen. We can be on the way to one call and get diverted if there is a cardiac arrest or a stroke.

“If our call isn’t life-threatening, the resources will go elsewhere. We will keep them company and wait for the ambulance to arrive.”

Alyson gives up her time voluntarily and free of charge.

“I try and have my pager turned on for between 20 and 25 hours per week.

“I sometimes think just being there to comfort the individual calms the whole situation down. It helps them a lot just having somebody there who can take charge.

“It seems to reassure family members as well.”

To maintain this key local service, Alyson says they need more volunteers.

“It is vital,” she continued. “It is not just Aspatria First Responders, all the first responders are seeing a drop in their numbers. It is crucial we get more people on our books.

“The more people we have out there saving lives, the better it is for everybody.”

Alyson added: “The more the merrier, but if we could get another three/four in the group that would give us a healthy number.

“It is all in the community, providing care in Aspatria. There is an ambulance station in Wigton, but we have had ambulances come from Penrith and Keswick before.”

The service they provide is vital, says Alyson.

“It is good for the community, especially as people are getting older and living longer.

“If we can be there even two/three minutes before the ambulance, we can have a calming influence on them. We can start with the care, we can check oxygen levels and heart rate, we can start the paperwork ready for the ambulance service when they get here.”

Alyson explains how people can find out more.

“People can contact us through our Facebook page, which is called ‘Aspatria Community First Responders’, or they can visit the North West Ambulance Service community first responders page, or they can give me a call on 016973 21831.”

David McNally, community resuscitation manager for North West Ambulance Service, said: “We rely on our community first responders, especially in more rural locations, to not only help save lives but also to just be there for our patients and be a reassuring face. Sometimes it is the smallest things that make the biggest difference.”

Responders can be anyone older than 18 who owns a car, with volunteers able to commit only a few hours per week.

For more, visit www.nwas-responders.info.