THESE are the faces of the shopping centre security guards who could save your life.

The team of four from The Mall in Blackburn have been trained by the North West Ambulance Service in the latest emergency techniques to help shoppers and other visitors to the town centre who fall ill suddenly.

Paul Masterman, Sara Jaffer, Gareth Stead-Clark and Maggie Koziol are all now fully qualified volunteer Community First Responders.

They are being supported by The Mall Management to attend to those who may need their help across the town as part of their daily duties.

The responders provide an important support to local communities as they are called out at the same time as an ambulance crew to serious and emergency incidents.

As they are usually first on the scene they can provide that important first aid and are equipped with specialist life-saving equipment such as defibrillators to help increase the chances of getting a positive outcome until the Ambulance Service arrive.

Mall services manager Ronnie O’Keefe said: “Community First Responders are a vital part of the emergency services and I am delighted that four members of our team are now fully trained and ready to help.

“There are 27 Community First Responders in Blackburn with Darwen and Accrington, and having four here in the Mall is wonderful.

“We have worked in conjunction with management here at The Mall and our first responders can attend incidents as part of their everyday duties, which is great news.”

Nick Isherwood, a Community First Responder Team Leader with the ambulance service in Accrington and Blackburn with Darwen, said: “Around 20 per cent of cardiac arrests happen in public places and the survival chances can be dramatically increased through immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and early defibrillation and thanks to the support of The Mall in Blackburn, daytime shoppers, workers and visitors to the town centre will now have a dedicated team of Community First Responders.

“Additionally, when the staff are away from work they will be able to respond to any incidents within their local community, providing even greater support in life threatening medical emergencies across the area.

“I cannot thank the team and their management enough for their generosity and commitment.”