ST JOHN Ambulance's Okehampton unit is looking for more first aiders to support the charity's life saving work.

As volunteers have left the area, or gone to university, numbers have fallen and the current team of six needs additional support.

Will Kivell, the unit's duty co-ordinator, said: 'Our first aiders are trained to a high standard to provide treatment to patients at events including music festivals, agricultural shows, local sports events and banger racing.

'We also often help at duties around the region — for example we were at Bridgwater Carnival, in Somerset, recently.'

Volunteers from as far away as Ilfracombe and Exmouth were drafted in to support their colleagues from Okehampton, during the Drogo 10 running event, at Dartmoor's Castle Drogo, on Sunday November 16.

With St John Ambulance providing first aid cover for an increasing number of events in Devon and further afield, across the South West and beyond, now is a great time to become one of the charity's volunteers.

'We teach people first aid so they can be the difference between life and death, and we're looking for more people in Okehampton and the surrounding area to help us do this,' Will said.

'No previous training is required — it will all be provided — we just look for a desire to help people and the readiness to deal with situations that can be distressing.'

Anyone who would like to join the charity's Okehampton unit as a first aider can now apply online at: http://www.sja.org.uk/volunteer">www.sja.org.uk/volunteer

The volunteers' weekly meetings are on Thursday evenings, at Unit 2B/2C Hameldown Road Industrial Estate.

For more information about becoming a first aider, please contact area manager Alex Potkins via e-mail on [email protected]">[email protected]

To book a place on a first aid training course or find out more about volunteering opportunities with St John Ambulance, visit http://www.sja.org.uk">www.sja.org.uk or call 0844 770 4800.