Greater Manchester's firefighters could be asked to be the first responders in some medical emergencies in a bid to "save more lives", the region's mayor said.
Andy Burnham has asked chief fire officer Dave Russel to look at how fire crews could be used to help take pressure off the ambulance service.
He said firefighters can respond more quickly to emergencies than paramedics who can be "trapped" waiting to offload patients at A&E.
The Fire Bridges Union has been contacted for comment.
Mr Burnham said firefighters' training and pay would need to be looked at if they took on this "extra responsibility".
But he said the union had indicated it would support the plan.
He told BBC Radio Manchester he did not know the cost of the proposal yet, but promised to consult with residents as it could lead to changes in council tax.
There are 41 fire stations across Greater Manchester spread across the region's ten districts.
The average response time of crews was seven minutes 30 seconds, Mr Burnham said, meaning they were "faster" than ambulances.
"That's no criticism, but through getting defibrillators more quickly to people who need them in Greater Manchester, we will save lives.
"It's the right thing to do", he said.
The move would help free up the North West Ambulance Service in times of "increased pressure and demand", they mayor added.
Mr Russel, who heads Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), has been asked to look at the proposal and report back by the end of the year.
A similar scheme was trialled by the service in 2015-16 and found to have the potential to save 63 lives a year and help 77 people avoid life-changing neurological damage.
GMFRS and the North West Ambulance Service have been contacted for comment.