TWO life-saving initiatives have been launched, thanks to the fundraising efforts of local people.

First Responder schemes have been set up in the Stokesley and Hutton Rudby areas to help fight one of the country's biggest killers.

The Rotary Club of Stokesley, in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation, raised enough money to buy two defibrillators, which use an electric shock to help restart a heart to a regular rhythm.

Now the equipment is being used by two groups of community-based volunteers who can be called on by Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) to respond to emergencies before an ambulance arrives.

Owen Searle, of Hutton Rudby, is the team leader of the First Responder schemes in the village and Stokesley.

He said: "Community-based First Responders can reach patients quicker than an ambulance, and in such cases where a defibrillator and oxygen is required, it gives the patient a better chance of survival as early access is the key."

The project was initiated by the Rotary Club, which has been championing the benefit of defibrillators in the community for a number of years.

The group raised thousands of pounds for the equipment and helped to organise a public meeting to recruit volunteers for the schemes.

As well as Mr Searle, the Hutton Rudby volunteers are Mike Holmes, Julie Saxton, Julia Walker and Joanne Flood. Shirley-Ann Widlf is the group co-ordinator.

The Stokesley volunteers are co-ordinator Gerry Kennedy, Lynne Martin, and Sue and Phil Wardle.

All First Responders have completed 12 hours of first aid training, which will be updated with refresher courses.

The Stokesley group has already had its first call-out, to a woman who had collapsed in a care home.

The volunteer made the patient comfortable and provided reassurance until an ambulance arrived to take her to hospital.

Steve Harrison, scheme co-ordinator for Tenyas, said: "Community-based First Responders are only minutes away to provide life-saving treatment within the first few moments of a heart attack and other similar emergencies.

"They will be a great asset to their local communities."