A HAMPSHIRE village is appealing for volunteers and funds to help run a vital emergency service.

Milford-on-Sea community first responders are looking to buy two new response kits, and two more volunteers.

Each kit costs £1200 and the Milford-on-Sea first-responders need a total of £2400.

The kits contains life-saving equipment such as; an oxygen cylinder, oxygen masks adult and paediatric, pulse oximetry meter which measures oxygen levels and heart rate, a bag valve mask used to administer oxygen to an unconscious patient, and a defibrillator.

Ross Woolgar, Milford-On-Sea CFR co-ordinator said: “The role of a community responder I feel is fuelled by a passion to help the local community they live in.

"Community responders also have a passion for fundraising. Fundraising is vital for the community responders as we are not NHS funded.”

He added: “Unlike the NHS funded ambulance service if we do not have funds we cannot continue our life-saving work, so that is why we require the support of the local community.

"To date we have had an incredible £2000 donated.”

“We are looking for anyone over 18 with a driving licence who can commit to 20 hours a month on call time.

"We also require new responders to attend a two day training course provided by south central ambulance service which teaches everything we need to know to potentially save someone’s life in those first vital minutes before an ambulance arrives.”

Ross says that the Milford team have been going for about six weeks but have already done some good work.

He said: “To date we have attended around 15 emergency calls from suspected heart attacks to suspected strokes.”

“We have four volunteers at the moment and I’d like to see a couple more come on board. Currently it’s a two day training course provided by south central ambulance service.”

He said: “We have a varied background in the team from an ex-constable in Hampshire police to a nurse.

"We also have two with no prior medical background I must stress this is not a requirement to join.”

Community First Responders are volunteers who give their time to help care for people in emergencies and save lives in their community.

Responders are everyday members of the general public who are trained to deal with a wide range of potentially life threatening conditions until the arrival of an ambulance.

There are currently over 1200 community first responders working with South Central Ambulance Service.