VOLUNTEERS are now under starter’s orders as they gear up for the biggest first aid challenge ever undertaken in the county.

The British Red Cross and St John Ambulance have joined forces to provide 350 volunteers a massive operation for the Olympic Torch Relay, Cultural Olympiad events including the Battle for the Winds, the Olympic opening ceremonies and sailing events in Weymouth and Portland.

The two companies will be working together under a contract from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and will include first aiders, doctors, nurses and paramedics from all over Dorset as well as volunteers being recruited from across the UK, including as far afield as Northern Ireland.

They will man five ambulances and first aid posts including an advanced care centre with high-tech life support facilities.

The main focus of the team will be on the Weymouth Beach Live Site where 15,000 people will be able to watch all the sailing and Olympic action from around the UK on two giant screens, while cycle response teams will patrol the Last Mile from the park and ride drop offs to the beach and Nothe Gardens.

Another team will be stationed at the Town Bridge as that will be the route people will be taking to the LOCOG ticketed site in the gardens.

There will even be a golf-buggy mini-ambulance to respond to casualties at the beach sports arena. Their first aid kits will include medical gases and automated external defibrillators.

Principal service delivery officer for Dorset St John Ambulance Robert Ashton said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Dorset and we’re proud to be part of it.

“Our members are trained to deal with any first aid emergency, from cut fingers to cardiac arrests. In the worst case scenario they’re ready to be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.”

Emma Marshall, programme manager at the Red Cross, said: “Our volunteers are all excited to play such an important role in keeping spectators safe during the Olympic celebrations in Weymouth.

“Volunteers from both organisations have been eager to sign up to help provide the high levels of cover needed with over 50,000 people descending on Weymouth throughout the duration of the games. “It is a huge task but our competent and highly-trained volunteers have up-to-the-minute first aid skills to respond to any medical emergency.”

Games gynaecologists

AS THE athletes gear up for the games two Dorchester gynaecologists are also preparing to take their place at the London 2012 Olympics.

Michael Dooley from BMI The Winterbourne Hospital and Dorset County Hospital has been appointed senior gynaecologist for the games.

He will head up a team of six medical professionals to support residents of the Olympic village.

The team will include fellow consultant gynaecologist at BMI The Winterbourne Hospital Bronwyn Bell who specialises in period problems, endometriosis, pelvic pain and pre-menstrual syndrome.

It will be Mr Dooley’s third experience of being part of the Olympics after he was part of the medical team supporting Team GB at the 1996 games at Atlanta and in Sydney in 2000 when he held the position of director of sports science and medicine with the British Equestrian Federation.

He said: “It’s always a great experience and honour being involved with the athletes at such a huge sporting event, but because this is on home soil it will be even more special.”

Mr Dooley, below left, has extensive experience of addressing gynaecological problems in sportswomen and also specialises in endocrinology, infertility, menopause and premenstrual syndrome.

He said: “Often athletes will suffer from the Female Athlete Triad, which will need particular attention especially at such a critical time as the 2012 games.

“The gynaecological issues that arise with extreme exercise require an integrated team approach and it is fabulous to be working with such professional teams.”

Mr Dooley has also helped develop guidelines on exercise in pregnancy for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Executive director of BMI The Winterbourne Hospital said: “It is such a fantastic opportunity for Michael, I’m sure it’ll be one of life’s great experiences for him.

“We are all really very proud of him and we know he’ll be a great ambassador for BMI The Winterbourne Hospital and for Dorchester.

“He has an important part to play in the medical attention of our Olympians and Paralympians on a worldwide platform.’