A woman who suffered serious life-threatening injuries has prompted a community hub to highlight the importance of having basic first aid and vital equipment on hand.

It comes after April Simnor and Clarissa Belson, managers at First Focus, were called to help an elderly woman who had fallen outside Fakenham Library, on Oak Street.

Ms Simnor and Ms Belson provided first aid and rang for an ambulance. While they waited for help, a member of the public comforted the woman.

Because of her injuries and past health issues, she was unable to be moved until the air ambulance and a crew from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust arrived on scene.

She was later taken to hospital.

As a result of the incident, the duo considered what their options might have been if the woman’s condition had worsened before the ambulance arrived.

They said the incident had highlighted the importance of the need for more members of the public to be trained in basic first aid and have knowledge about Fakenham’s defibrillator equipment.

Ms Simnor said: “At some point in our lives we all need the emergency services. We all know that these are reaching saturation point. Collectively we need to take ownership in life-threatening situations and need to be informed in the used of equipment, for example the different types of dressings to use, pressure on the wounds and types of wounds, the vital things to remember to protect yourself in an emergency, and how to use the equipment and the placements of these.”

Ironically, the incident happened just as First Focus recently secured new funding to help in such an instance.

Following a recent initiative, with Tesco supermarket and Groundwork Funding, the local information and social centre was granted £2,000 to put towards installing its own mobile unit in the Scout Hall in Oak Street.

In addition to this, they have teamed up with Fully Trained, based on Fakenham industrial estate, to hold basic first aid courses and provide information on using a defibrillator and what to expect in an emergency.

- To book a place on a free mental health course or a free first aid course contact April Simnor or Clarissa Belson on 01328 855083 or 07415741921 or email aprilfirstfocus@gmail.com.