A BUS company worker whose actions have helped saved numerous individuals has spoken about her experience as a voluntary paramedic.

In 2005 Diane Eaglestone signed up to become an Essex Community First Responder (CFR) out of a desire to 'help the community'.

After receiving three weekends of training from the East of England Ambulance Service which added to her experience as a first aider, the 45 year-old was ready to go on call in Loughton.

She said: "They way it works is you you switch your phone on and wait for a call.

"When it rings they tell you where the job is, what it is going to be and how long the paramedics will be.

"You then grab your stuff, get in the car and off you go."

The aim of the CFR programme is to reach a potential life threatening emergency in the first vital minutes before the ambulance crew arrives.

Across Epping Forest there are five ambulance stations, in Ongar, Epping, Loughton, Waltham and Harlow.

Stationed close to the Loughton centre, Ms Eaglestone was beaten to her first emergency call out by paramedics.

Over the past 13 years she has been first on the scene on countless occasions however.

"It varies week to week and day to day how often you get called out. It can be no call outs or six times in a day." Ms Eaglestone added.

"One time I was called to a jogger who had collapsed in Gravel Lane. A member of the public had seen him running, spotted him going down and was giving him CPR.

"I took over and kept his heart going while the paramedic sorted their stuff out."

The jogger was taken to hospital in an ambulance and, despite Ms Eaglestone's best efforts, did not regain conciousness.

Organisers ensure responders are debriefed and okay in the wake of such incidents.

Fortunately, many of her call outs have happier endings.

"One elderly lady was found unconscious," she continued.

"I managed to get her oxygen up. By the time I had left she was fully concious and talking to the ambulance service.

"Everything that had been suspected was wrong with her was thrown out the window. The police had thought it might be an assault. It turned out she had been desperate to go to the toilet, and had collapsed while taking her pants down."

Although CFRs are not called out to fights or trauma incidents, such as car crashes, the jobs they do attend are varied and, as the statistics show, numerous.

Between January and June last year, CFRs attended 2,595 emergencies in Essex alone.

Yet they could always attend more.

"We are always looking for more people to sign up," said Ms Eaglestone, who fits her work as a CFR around her day job at a bus company.

"I wanted to help people and make a difference. I wanted to help the community.

"It can be difficult, but I would urge people to do it."

To be a CFR you must be physically fit, agree to a criminal record bureau check, have a full driving licence and the use of a car, have a caring nature and agree to undertake training.

To sign up go to www.respondersuk.org/essex/