HEALTH students have offered a lifeline to a St John Ambulance unit by volunteering their services.

More than 15 students from Redcar & Cleveland College have signed up to a first aid training course with the Marske-based unit, which was under threat of not opening due to a lack of volunteers.

As part of their training, the students learned about different aspects of first aid, including resuscitation, managing a scene to wound care and are now equipped to work as a volunteer and offer first aid cover at local events, fetes, festivals, concerts, exhibitions and ceremonies.

Ryan Davies, unit manager at Marske, said: “The team is so overwhelmed by the valuable support of the students. Their desire to help people in their community has ultimately saved the new unit, which will now be able to open following their applications.

“The students have learned to be the difference, between a life lost, and a life saved and I urge anybody interested in saving lives in their community to sign up and become a volunteer.”

For more information about volunteering visit www.sja.org.uk/sja/volunteer.aspx.