AN SOS is being sent out to encourage people to help Lancashire's ambulance crews to save more lives.

The Heart of Lancashire Appeal, which was set up and is sponsored by county's ambulance service, needs volunteers to organise and run charity events to raise money for their cause.

The appeal aims to buy 300 automatic portable defibrillators and place them at strategic points around the county, manned by teams of people who are trained to use the machines and able to give basic life support.

And although the scheme has already been able to purchase several defibrillators, it desperately needs more volunteers to give fund-raising support.

With 300 defibrillators, up to 300,000 members of the public with basic life support training, and the ten paramedic fast response vehicles, Lancashire Ambulance Service know many more lives will be saved.

There would always be someone close by who knew what to do, should you collapse.

A spokesman for the Friends of Heart of Lancashire Appeal said: "We are asking for volunteers to help the charity with charity collections and other fund-raising activities.

If you would like to volunteer and/or become a member of the group, write to Friends of the Heart of Lancashire Appeal, FREEPOST, NWW2724A, Preston PR2 8BR, or call (01772) 711510.

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