Jersey Ambulance Service has introduced a new Community First Responders scheme aimed at saving lives.

Alerted via an app, volunteers will arrive at the location of emergencies before an ambulance to perform life-saving measures such as CPR.

The CFR trained and approved volunteers log on to show their availability and receive alerts to call-outs.

Islanders applied to be part of the scheme and have undergone extensive training to be able to make early interventions to treat a patient, such as in the case of a heart attack.

First Responder Liam Nalboczyk  says in an emergency, time is of the essence:

"With every minute that someone is not breathing, their chance of survival reduced. The sooner we can get the Community First Responder on the scene, with good quality CPR and a defibrillator, the better their chances of survival are.

We will be sent to cardiac arrests, breathing difficulties and major medical where they require immediate assistance.

When you dial 999, you speak to the call-taker, and as soon as they start inputting information into their system it will automatically dispatch the closest Community First Responder."

 The Community First Responders

Senior Paramedic Jason Hamon says it is a nationally recognised scheme that has been proven to really make all the difference in emergency situations.

"The scheme pays particular focus to the most serious of calls, where patients are experiencing chest pains and may be having a suspected heart attack. The first few moments really are vital in these circumstances and the purpose of CFRs is to ensure help gets to the most needy, as quickly as possible.

The Jersey Ambulance Service is incredibly grateful to all those who have stepped up to become CFRs, and we very much look forward to working cohesively together to continue providing a top-quality service to islanders."