11 December 2011 Last updated at 10:56 ET

Somerset paramedic's trip helps train Afghanistan medics

Nich Woolf (centre lower) from Burnham-on-Sea works for the Welsh Ambulance Service

A Somerset paramedic has returned from Afghanistan where he trained hospital staff in emergency medicine and the use of life-saving equipment.

Nich Woolf, 58, worked with the charity founded by former ITN newsreader Sandy Gall, which provides medical assistance and rehabilitation for victims of war.

He taught medics, more used to treating gunshot wounds, about resuscitation and the symptoms of a heart attack.

Mr Woolf lives in Burnham-on-Sea and works in south Wales.

'Emergency situations'

He said there had been some difficulties with bringing supplies in and that travel around the war-torn country had been difficult.

"Alcohol cleansing wipes were confiscated by officials because Afghanistan is a strictly Muslim country and alcohol in all forms is banned," he said.

"Our objective in Mazar was to ensure that the public hospital facilities were safe and the staff adequately trained for effective operations to be carried out in emergency situations.

"I taught sessions on resuscitation for about 50 surgeons, doctors, nurses and anaesthetists. It was interesting that while the signs and symptoms of a heart attack were unknown to them, maintaining the airway of a patient with gunshot wounds was second nature.

"This illustrates their daily working lives in Afghanistan at the moment," he added.

Mr Woolf is also a founder member of Festival Medical Services, whose volunteers supply medical support for Glastonbury Festival and raise money for medical causes in Britain and around the world.