DENBY Dale councillor Jim Dodds is hoping to set up rapid-response medical teams in his ward.

Clr Dodds is looking for Denby Dale people to train as Community First Responders - volunteers who will be on-call for medical emergencies in their area.

The `responders' would be trained by West Yorkshire ambulance service in scene and patient assessment, airway management, basic life support and defibrillation techniques.

This would allow them to deal with incidents such as shortness of breath, heart attacks, people who have collapsed or are unconscious.

When someone dials 999, emergency operators would send both `responders' and professional ambulance crews to the patient.

As the responders live locally, they can reach the scene first and provide vital first aid until paramedics arrive.

Clr Dodds decided to set up a team in Denby Dale after seeing a Community First Responder scheme launched in Shepley.

He said: "It is important in all emergencies to get medical aid there as quickly as possible.

"In a rural area like Denby Dale this can be quite a daunting task and not one that is easily achieved.

"If we can set up responder teams it would be a great benefit to the community as a whole and in particular to those who suffer a heart attack in an isolated area."

Kirklees Council's Denby Dale Area Committee - which Clr Dodds chairs - has pledged to pay the £1,000 training costs to set up a team in Denby Dale.

It will also pay to set up teams in other areas of the Denby Dale ward, if volunteers can be found.

Volunteers need to be aged over 18, in good health and able to stay calm under pressure.

Contact Jeremy Pease - who co-ordinates the Shepley scheme - on 01484 607845 after 6pm on weekdays.