FIREFIGHTERS in Dulverton are hoping to become double lifesavers in the next few months with the launch of the town's first co-responders unit.

There are hopes that eight station members will be given additional training by Westcountry Ambulance, over and above their existing first aid tuition, in order to qualify as co-responders.

They will be taught how to use various pieces of lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and spinal boards and given instructions on the use of oxygen therapy.

The aim is to set up Dulverton's first quick-response team of 'mini medics' who can be called on by ambulance staff to tend to a casualty before paramedics arrive.

A similar scheme is already proving to be hugely successful in Porlock, where trained firefighters are called out to provide medical care for people waiting for an ambulance to arrive from either Taunton or Minehead.

In reality, patients may occasionally have to wait longer than 20 minutes for an ambulance if they fall ill or are hurt in more remote areas of Somerset.

However, with highly trained co-responders based within the locality, the chances of a casualty receiving basic medical treatment within a matter of minutes is much higher.

But Dulverton Station Officer Rick Stanbury was keen to stress that he and his colleagues would not be taking the place of paramedics.

He explained: "We will be trained to a level that is higher than that of our basic first aid training, but we are not paramedics.

"We will be there to offer assistance until paramedics arrive."

Porlock was the first Somerset station to have a co-responders team, following successful pilot schemes across the border in Devon.

Having monitored the success of the Porlock unit, Somerset Fire Brigade bosses approached firefighters in Dulverton to ask them to consider setting up their own unit in what is the largest firefighting patch in Somerset, covering some 274 square kilometres.

The men - who all work full-time as well as being firefighters - did not take much persuading and quickly agreed to undergo the extra training and to take on the additional commitment involved with the scheme.

Mr Stanbury said: "We all felt as though we should be doing our bit for the community.

"We know it's going to be a big commitment but we've already had an excellent response from people in the town."

For as well as the extra training, the firefighters have to raise between £3,000 and £3,500 towards the cost of kitting-out a special co-responders emergency vehicle with vital medical equipment.

On Wednesday, firefighters gathered at the fire station to receive a cheque for £1,000 from Dulverton Town Council towards the cost of setting-up the unit.

A further £500 was donated by the Streamcombe Allotments Charity, while Brushford Parish Council also pledged to donate £500.

Individuals have also pledged money and members of Dulverton's local ladies group have decided to give all the cash they raise this year to the unit.

And not content with simply providing the valuable service, six of Dulverton's firefighters are currently planning a sponsored pump push at Easter.

They hope to raise at least £1,000 by literally pushing a pump 25 miles from the fire station to Exford, onto Winsford and back to Dulverton all in one day.

Mr Stanbury said he and his colleagues had raised £700 when they completed a similar feat some 15 years ago, but added: "We managed - but I suppose we were all 15 years younger then!"

He said the station was well on course to raising enough money to equip the emergency vehicle, which was being supplied by Somerset Fire Brigade.

More money would need to be raised throughout the coming years to ensure equipment could continue to be updated and said he hoped the unit would be up and running by April.

Anyone wanting to sponsor the pump push, or who would like to make a donation to the unit, can contact Mr Stanbury at his Subaru garage in Dulverton's High Street or phone him in office hours on 01398 323545.

Alternatively, donations can be made through any of the firefighters based at the Dulverton station.

l Cllr Mike Gammon, chairman of the Streamcombe Allotments Charity, and Cllr Chris Nelder, vice-chairman of Dulverton Town Council, are pictured presenting their cheques to station officer Rick Stanbury and Dulverton's firefighters on Wednesday evening.

Photo: Steve Guscott.