A CONTROVERSIAL scheme that will see firecrews responding to medical emergencies if they are nearer to the scene than paramedics was officially launched on Monday.

The co-responder system, which means firefighters could answer 999 calls to situations such as heart attacks, prompted an outcry from the Fire Brigades' Union last week.

But as the project was unveiled at Melksham Fire Station, assistant chief fire officer Peter Baxter said it had nothing to do with time or politics, it was about saving lives.

"Our firefighters will be improving community protection in the areas they live and work in," he said. "We have provided a basic level of this service for more than three years, and now we are expanding it."

Last week Joe Tray, secretary of the FBU in Wiltshire, said most firefighters felt they weren't properly equipped or trained to deal with urgent medical situations.

He said they were being roped in because the ambulance service was not meeting its targets.

But one family with first hand experience of firefighters being called out, say it's vital that it continues.

Two years ago a crew from Pewsey answered a 999 call to 64-year-old Thelma Giddings, of Broadfields, who suffered a heart attack.

Her daughter, Teresa Pound, said her mother's survival could have been a different story if the crews had not been so quick to take action.

"I was a bit surprised when the firecrew turned up but I didn't care," said Mrs Pound. "I was already doing cardiac resuscitation on mum and they took over and gave her a shock with the defibrillator. They were brilliant and saved her life.

"If they can get there, and know what they are doing until the paramedics arrive then it doesn't matter if it's firemen who help. I'm all for it."

Melksham Station Officer Pete Rivers said most retained crews were excited at the prospect of giving even more back to their local communities. "We feel very privileged and we are all looking forward to the challenge," he said.

In a few months time all 17 retained fire stations in Wiltshire will be taking part in the scheme.

Four stations Melksham, Tisbury, Bradford on Avon and Mere are already acting as co-responders. Melksham firefighters attended 50 medically-related call-outs in the last five weeks.

Paul Gates, director of operations at Wiltshire Ambulance Service, said: "It is a well known medical fact that if a patient doesn't get some basic lifesaving treatment within four to five minutes the chances of survival fall dramatically. This is about getting immediate help to people who live in the rural communities of Wiltshire.

"An ambulance would also be sent out but with the best will in the world we can't always be four or five minutes away."

Co-responder schemes are fairly common throughout the country, but Wiltshire is one of the first to have all its retained stations involved.

Fire engines will carry even more medical equipment than before and crews will receive special training from paramedics.

Vince Kimber, Wiltshire secretary of the Retained Firefighters' Union and a retained firefighter for 32 years, said it was an essential service for rural communities.

"Most retained firefighters join to serve the community they live in," he said.

"If we can give another service to the people, then why not?

"I wouldn't knock the ambulance service because I think it's wonderful, but it does struggle sometimes.

"We're not trying to pinch anybody's jobs.

"We are happy for the paramedics to take over when they get to the scene."