A PAINTER and decorator  is putting the finishing touches to his plan to form a lifesaving team in his town.

Pat Harper is appealing for volunteers to join the new Llangollen Community First Responder group.

It will join a network of similar teams across North Wales who are using their first aid skills to help their neighbours.

First Responders are all trained by Welsh Ambulance Service emergency medical service staff.

In Llangollen this means Wrexham-based paramedic Neil Stanley.

Each volunteer who signs up to the scheme learns how to administer basic first aid skills, spot cardiac conditions, carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use a defibrillator – working with patients until an ambulance reaches them.

Pat, who has learned first aid over his working career, trained alongside colleagues from Corwen Community First Responders.

He is now hoping to pass down what he has learnt to new volunteers from Llangollen as team co-ordinator.

He said: “I have practised first aid at work for the last 20 years and have also worked with search and rescue.

“I’ve already attended a number of calls in Llangollen and I hope the new volunteers and I can extend a helping hand to the community.

“I am also hoping this experience will help me gain the knowledge and skills to aid my career aspects of joining the Welsh Ambulance Service as a trainee emergency medical technician.”

Regional First Responder officer Kevin Hands, of Wrexham, said: “Llangollen is such a bustling community all year round thanks to its tourist status and town centre, so having First Responders on the doorstep will provide added emergency cover to residents and visitors.

“I am proud that Pat has taken on board the ethos of the Community First Responder scheme and is working hard to build a team residents of Llangollen can be proud of.”

For information about joining the new Llangollen team, contact the regional first responder office on 01978 366 204, email amb_firstresponders.north@wales.nhs.uk or call Pat Harper on 07947 701927.