A LOCAL police officer and first aid charity volunteer has flown out to one of the the poorest nations this week to teach lifesaving skills to thousands of people who are cut off from regular healthcare.

PC Alex Jones (pictured), who is based at Tenby Police Station, is a member of the West Wales Region of St. John Wales.

He is one of five adult volunteers who are accompanying 12 young volunteers to Zambia's capital of Lusaka for seven days.

They will train police officers, teachers, schoolchildren, St. John Zambia trainers and members of the public in first aid skills, including CPR, the recovery position, how to deal with choking and other essential lifesaving techniques.

During last year's visit, St. John Wales volunteers taught a record 4,814 people in first aid. This year, the group is hoping to train as many, if not more people in Zambia - where the life expectancy rate is just 42.

They will be working in 12 schools - training 100 teachers and more than 1,500 schoolchildren in vital first aid. Zambian authorities have asked for their police officers to be taught first aid skills which focus on what to do at a road traffic collision and how to protect themselves whilst on duty.

St. John Wales volunteers will also explore ways to develop eye care through first aid techniques.

The trip was made possible thanks to a £17,500 grant from the Welsh Assembly Government

Victoria Stevens from Pembroke Dock is another of the adults on the trip, while Jason Venables John, a 16-year-old member of the Fishguard Division, is one of the young volunteers.

St. John Wales' Chief Commander said: "We are so pleased to once again be able to support our St. John colleagues in Lusaka and to be able to train the wider community in lifesaving first aid skills. On this occasion we will also be researching the potential for first aid to identify cases of visual acuity in the area."