COVID-secure training sessions have begun this week for community first responders, with five courses taking place over the next five weeks to train volunteers from across the region to respond to emergencies in their local area. CFRs are allocated to certain emergencies in their local area alongside NWAS resources. Due to their proximity, they are often able to arrive first and save vital minutes in starting life-saving intervention. Mark Evans, Interim Regional Blue Light Collaboration & Community Engagement Manager, said: “Covid-19 has provided a challenge in our ability to offer training sessions to new CFRs in our region, but it’s great to be able to now move in a positive direction by increasing the numbers of volunteers we have trained in emergency care and who are able to assist us in getting care to our patients fast and effectively.