A fire crew is now live and available to assist the ambulance service on co-responding cardiac arrest incidents.

On Monday, Borehamwood Fire was given the go-ahead to start responding to cardiac arrest calls across the area in an attempt to put less lives at risk.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue and the East of England Ambulance Service have been piloting a scheme in which fire crews have acted as co-responders when someone is in cardiac arrest.

Lee Hayward, station commander at Borehamwood Fire station, said: “This is definitely a positive step forward.

“If we arrive before the ambulance crew we will perform the necessary requirements and support the paramedics when they arrive.

“Both our goals is to prevent a life being lost and if we can assist the ambulance service is helping a patient survive then it can only be a positive step forward.”

No extra training has been given to the firemen but Commander Hayward said they already have the required level of training for cardiac arrest calls.

When the East of England ambulance service receives a life-threatening call they will contact the fire control room who will issue an engine to assist the ambulance crew.

Watford and Stevenage crews have already taken part in this trial last June and Commander Hayward believes it has had a positive impact.

If the fire service receives a life threatening fire call while they are on route to a co-responding cardiac arrest call it would be up to the control room to decide whether the crew continues to assist paramedics or to go deal with the fire.