"The provision of first aid care to the Newtown community is about to turn an amazing circle.

On 5 July 1948 the people of Montgomeryshire were provided with an ambulance service that until 1970 had no equal throughout the United Kingdom.

During these 22 years the St John Ambulance Brigade maintained a "Volunteer" ambulance service where drivers and attendants carried out these duties without any payments for time they gave.

One of these very special teams was based in Newtown and the Newtown ambulance was totally manned by members of the Newtown St John Division.

On 20 September 2008 Newtown St John Division launch their First Responder scheme.

The members of the scheme are all members of the Newtown St John Division, and give of their time voluntarily to help those in need within the Newtown area.

The team members are all be trained in first aid, defibrillation and use of medical gases.

These skills along with regular scenario training enables the team to cope with any emergency they are sent to.

The way the scheme works is that when a member of the public makes a 999 call for an ambulance, the ambulance controller will know if the first responders are "on call " and if there is going to be any delay in the ambulance service responding the "First Responders" will be asked to go to the ill or injured person.

The first responders use their own vehicles, the St John has purchased the kit and they are most likely to be in their ordinary day clothes though they will wear a uniform coat and carry an ambulance ID card. On arrival to the ill or injured person the team members will be able to assess the situation, commence initial treatment and start to build up a history of the event in preparation for the arrival of the full time ambulance crew.

In patients who are unconscious or whose heart has stopped, the prompt arrival of the team can save a persons life by either ensuring they have an open airway and receive oxygen to their vital organ or by the administration of a shock to their heart from a life saving defibrillator.

Members of the first responders scheme will be manning a stand in the Bear lanes shopping precinct on 20 September from 9am.

If you would like to know more about the scheme and how it may help you or if you think you would like to join the team come along and meet the first responders.

Alternatively the Newtown Division are holding an open day on 27 September from 10am on wards where both divisional members and first responders will be present to discuss the role of both the division and the first responders.

Anyone who would like to join or support the division is welcome. St John Ambulance HQ, Unit 63, Mochdre Industrial Estate, Llanidloes Road, Newtown."

Article written by David Cook of St John Ambulance