THE Nana Glen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which is part of the NSW Ambulance Volunteer Program, can boost their life saving skills thanks to the donation of new training equipment.
Two advanced CPR manikins valued at $5200 were funded by the residents of Nana Glen and Coramba.
The manikins will allow volunteers to practise cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), airway management, and defibrillation, with greater frequency and realism.
In a further boost, the Coffs Harbour and District Motorcycle Restorers Club Inc. donated a training defibrillator worth $530.
The model matches the equipment used in the field and allows the team to train under conditions that closely replicate real-life cardiac arrest scenarios.
“We are truly humbled by the generosity of our community,” members Jodie Williams and Barry Butler told News Of The Area.
“This equipment is not just training gear; it’s an investment in saving lives.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed.”
The Nana Glen CERT is a group of dedicated clinical volunteers who serve as the first line of emergency care across the Orara Valley.
Also operating in communities such as Bucca, Coramba, and Glenreagh, CERTs manage critical incidents while an ambulance is en route, often making a life-saving difference in the minutes that count most.
Each month, teams train alongside experienced and passionate paramedics who show them a range of vital clinical skills, from provisional diagnosis, pain relief, and wound care, to CPR and defibrillation.
However, keeping skills sharp requires access to realistic training equipment, something that’s not always readily available in regional volunteer programs.
Resources are often stretched across wide distances, from Kempsey to the Queensland border.
“That’s where the strength and generosity of the local community has truly shone,” added Jodi and Barry.
By Andrea FERRARI
