A NEW team of life-savers is now up and running to respond to emergency medical situations across the Dales.

Richmondshire MP Rishi Sunak officially launched a new community first responder group at Low Row in Swaledale.

Community first responders (CFRs) are volunteers trained in life-saving techniques and are able to use defibrillators, administer oxygen and carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

In isolated rural areas like the Yorkshire Dales they can often reach a patient to give life-saving assistance within a few minutes before an ambulance or paramedic arrives.

The new group was launched at an open day held at Low Row Institute where Mr Sunak was shown the CFR equipment and brushed up on his CPR technique while meeting the team.

He said: “I was hugely impressed by the skills and commitment of the volunteers who come from all walks of life.

“This is a tremendous community service and I hope more people come forward to help.”

The CFR scheme is co-ordinated by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) which trains the volunteers..

YAS CFR co-ordinator for northern North Yorkshire, Patrick Murphy, said he was delighted the Low Row group was up and running but more volunteers would be welcome.

He said local knowledge of area and terrain were vitally important but there was no requirement for volunteers to have any knowledge of first aid as all the necessary equipment and training was supplied by the NHS through the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

There are now more than 160 people trained as CFRs the area stretching from Hawes to Great Ayton and as far south as Boroughbridge.