I am running my first full marathon in Birmingham to helping to raise funds for Featherstone Community First Responders. All first responders have to maintain and look after their own cars and equipment and fund their own training. They essential to the community to respond to a 999 call within 8 minutes, because of the logistics involved, the closest ambulance may take longer than that to arrive. A community responder responds within their own community, therefore in theory at least, should be "on-scene" within the 8 minutes and start administering medical aid until an ambulance arrives. The type of ailments that they are called to are exactly the same as a professional ambulance person, these can be anything from broken bones to heart attacks to childbirth.