IN ONE corner of the room a man is choking, while in another two people are operating a defibrillator on someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.
Although, thankfully, in this instance both are training exercises, these life-saving techniques have and will continue to be carried out by volunteers across the region.
There are 150 Community First Responders in East Yorkshire, ranging from accountants and teachers to an MP.
Patricia Kilner, community defibrillation trainer at Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS), said: "The Community First Responder scheme is a partnership between the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and local groups of volunteers living within the community.
"As authorised volunteers for the ambulance service, Community First Responders work as part of a dedicated team whose aim it is to reduce the number of pre-hospital deaths in Yorkshire.
"In many medical emergencies, the first few minutes are critical and if effective treatment can be provided within that time, lives can be saved."
The unsung heroes who give up their time, are trained by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service in basic life-support skills, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator and the administration of oxygen.
When a 999 call is received by the service, an ambulance response is dispatched. At the same time a Community First Responder, on call in the area, can be alerted and asked to assist to ensure help reaches the patient as quickly as possible.
"You meet some truly amazing people from all walks of life, who don't want to be recognised for what they do," said Patricia.
"The key thing is for the First Responders not to diagnose, but treat what they see.
"Volunteers deal with clinically poorly people, not trauma, not anyone under 16, not in drink or drugs.
"They can be called out to people suffering from breathing difficulties, heart attack, cardiac arrest and asthma.
"It is about making sure help is there – someone who has completed the necessary training. Anxiety plays a massive part and having someone on the scene as soon as possible can calm that person down."
The Hedon group operates one kit bag, which includes a defibrillator, oxygen, gloves, dressings, a phone, a panic alarm and high-visibility tops.
At the latest training session, members are learning how to deal with choking, CPR and using the defibrillator.
Although this is only a practice, only hours earlier one of the volunteers attended a cardiac arrest in the town.
Volunteer Gordon Todd, who is a fire officer at BP Saltend, has been involved with the group since 2003.
He said: "The group was being promoted at the time because of concerns about the impact the Hedon Road reconstruction could have on traffic and response times to the town.
"It's brilliant and it is nice to give something back to the community.
"Our aim is to support and help until the professionals come along.
"The Yorkshire Ambulance Service does not ask for 24-hour cover, just whenever we can. It is down to the individual and their work shifts."
As well as saving lives, volunteers at Hedon also organise fundraising events.
The First Responders do not pay YAS service anything, so the money raised goes towards a second kit. Previous fundraising has also paid for T-shirts for the group.
Caroline Whincup is taking part in the Moonwalk marathon in Edinburgh this weekend.
As well as raising funds for Walk The Walk, she is also taking donations for the Community First Responders.
"I was told I had cancer about a year ago, just a few months after I had volunteered as a First Responder," she said.
"I was given the all-clear and wanted to get back responding again.
"I'm back into training. I think it is a brilliant idea. The Hedon group is a really nice bunch."
Hedon is one of more than a dozen groups in Hull and the East Riding, but YAS is always looking for new volunteers and groups.
A spokesman said: "Community First Responders are required because, especially in outlying areas, it is not always possible to have an ambulance in every village, able to arrive at any call within a few minutes.
"Because responders are based in the community in which they live, they can often arrive at the location of an incident within a few minutes and can begin life-saving care before the arrival of the ambulance.
"When put into practice by increasing public awareness, training in basic life support and community-based automated external defibrillator, these have improved the pre-hospital survival rate to between 25 and 30 per cent.
"YAS believes that, by having a scheme where Community First Responders are there, there will be a significant improvement in the chance of survival and this has been proven time and time again."
