LIFE saving first responders in South Brent are warning that the vital service could be lost to the village, without more volunteers.

When it was set up ten years ago, the South Brent first responder group had twelve members.

But now, there are just two trained individuals desperately trying to provide the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.

The responders are first on the scene at medical emergencies, administering vital first aid before paramedics arrive.

And Paul Bannister, the group’s team leader, says now is ‘crunch time’ to stave off the threat that the service could be lost.

He said: ‘We try to provide cover 24/7, 365 days a year. The two of us both work full time, and I’ve got three young boys – when I get home, there are times when I don’t really feel like booking on.

‘But if we don’t do a certain amount, then the ambulance service will take all our equipment away and give it to another rural community – and South Brent will have lost its first responder service.

‘I reckon we’re probably about six months away from that, and by the time we’ve recruited people and put them through training, we’ll be there. It really is crunch time.’

Paul says that, for the isolated communities covered by the group – it serves Didworthy, Bittaford, Avonwick and Rattery as well as South Brent – first responders can be the difference between life and death.

He continued: ‘The reason the ambulance service brought in first responders is that in some rural areas, there are times when an ambulance just can’t get there in time to save life.

‘Our nearest ambulance station is in Totnes, so even if an ambulance is there, and not out somewhere else, it’s eight miles along country lanes to get to South Brent. If someone’s had a cardiac arrest, it might not be quick enough.

‘That’s where the responders kick in. We can get to anywhere in the village in a few minutes.’

And Paul added that, while taking on the role entails a level of commitment, the rewards are huge. He said: ‘Because we’re so local, we can get there so quickly that sometimes we’re walking through the door before a person is even off the phone to call an ambulance.

‘The look on a person’s face when we walk in and they’re still on the phone is just priceless.

‘It’s not that big a commitment really. The ambulance service asks us to do 12 hours a week, so people know what’s expected of them, but of course if there are 20 people in the group then you’re not all going to do 12 hours.

‘You can book on at 6pm, go to bed as normal and by 6am the next morning you’ve done your twelve hours, and may well not have had a call.

‘There’s no better gift than the gift of life, and that’s exactly what we do.’

Anyone that might be interested in volunteering can ring Paul on 07789 000955, and he can talk you through the application process.