'We want people who run towards emergencies'

St John Ambulance volunteers said helping people in crisis gave them "a buzz" and encouraged more people to join as emergency responders.

The first aid charity has urged "anyone who runs towards an emergency" to consider volunteering, saying no previous medical experience is needed.

Catie Allen, a volunteer emergency ambulance crew member and volunteering services lead for Guildford, Woking and Cranleigh in Surrey, said St John responders are often first on scene when someone collapses.

She said: "If you're the kind of person that when someone collapses at the side of the road you pull over to help, then yes please come join us."

Allen said St John ambulances carried defibrillators, monitoring equipment and trauma supplies similar to NHS vehicles, allowing volunteers to provide life‑saving care until paramedics arrived.

She added: "We have everything that we need to help save lives, basically."

Emergency responder Eddie Fisher said volunteers dealt with everything from blisters at major events to cardiac arrests in huge crowds.

Fisher said he dealt with a cardiac arrest at Twickenham during a major sporting event, where St John teams work alongside stewards, police and the London Ambulance Service.

"Within four minutes we actually brought that person back," he said.

"Certainly from a volunteering standpoint it's really rewarding, not from a financial standpoint, but just the buzz that you get from helping people."

Allen said volunteers were trained at different levels, from community first aiders to emergency responders and ambulance crew.

She said emergency responders committed to about 100 hours a year, adding many find those hours "quickly add up" through events and weekly training nights.

Allen said the charity's presence reassured communities, particularly at large public events.

She said: "Quite often people will see St John in the green uniform and know that they're in safe hands and can relax and enjoy the event."

St John Ambulance has launched a national drive to recruit 1,500 emergency responder volunteers across England.

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