Could you spare time for Ealing patients?

Hanwell Ambulance Operations Manager Pauline Cranmer said: "When someone's heart stops beating, every second counts in getting essential and basic life support to that patient.

"Our ambulances already reach a majority of patients in a life-threatening condition in less than eight minutes, but if someone living or working around the corner has the basic skills and equipment, and is dispatched at the same time as our staff, they can reach the patient even faster, giving them a much greater chance of survival."

An open evening will be held at St John Ambulance HQ Ealing, Priory Hall, Loveday Road, W13 9JT on Monday 18 January and Tuesday 26 January from 7pm to 9pm, where people can come along and find out more.

Successful CFR volunteers will be trained to use a defibrillator - a machine that restarts a patient's heart by delivering an electric shock.

Defibrillators are already used in London by staff and the public at train stations, tourist attractions and shopping centres to save lives while an ambulance is on the way.

SJA Community Response Lead John Newman said: "This is a great opportunity for community-minded people to make a difference by learning how to save lives.

"Volunteers need to be extremely reliable and trustworthy, good under pressure and able to remain calm in an emergency situation."

Volunteers must also have a car and had a full and clean driving licence for at least a year.

However, they will not be responding to calls on blue lights and sirens, and they will not be sent to incidents where their personal safety is threatened.

Anyone interested in finding our more should contact Marian Thompson at St John Ambulance on 020 7258 7025, email cfr@london.sja.org.uk, or visit www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/acr