LIFESAVERS in Portishead have been bowled over by the generosity of sportsmen and women in the town. Portishead Bowls Club handed over a cheque for £100 to Mike Young who leads the Great Western Ambulance First Responders Team in the town. And it wasn't M

LIFESAVERS in Portishead have been bowled over by the generosity of sportsmen and women in the town.Portishead Bowls Club handed over a cheque for £100 to Mike Young who leads the Great Western Ambulance First Responders Team in the town.And it wasn't Mike's first visit to the club - he was called there in the summer to resuscitate a woman who had collapsed.Club spokesman Trevor Hounslow said: "Many of us know the good work that the community responders do and we are delighted to be able to support them."We won the Clevedon and District Bowls charity cup and we are donating the £100 prize money to the First Responders scheme."Following the success of the scheme in the town, ambulance bosses are now hoping to set up a similar initiative in Pill and are appealing for volunteers.People wanting to get involved will be trained and equipped to provide basic life saving care to patients prior to the arrival of paramedics.This includes the use of defibrillators on patients who have stopped breathing.Community responder manager Kim Morrissey, who is a paramedic, said: "In a medical emergency, seconds count."Survival rates increase if basic care is applied within the first few minutes before the ambulance arrives."This is where community responders can make a real difference."Previous experience of working in the medical field is not required and there are no statutory educational requirements although responders must be at least 18 years old.They must also have good interpersonal and communication skills and be able to observe and record accurate details.For an application form contact Kim Morrissey by writing to Great Western Ambulance Service NHS trust, Marybush Lane, Bristol, BS2 OAT or email kim.morrissey@avonambulance.nhs.uk