IF six residents from the Orara Valley step forward as volunteers, NSW Ambulance will bring Community First Responder training weekends to Coffs Harbour, supported by local trainers and experienced volunteers.
The Nana Glen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Glenreagh Community First Responders (CFR) currently operate with just two volunteers each.
“We do our best to answer every call and also back each other up if the other is unable to respond,” Nana Glen CERT member Jodie Williams told News Of The Area.
“If we had enough people trained in CPR and defibrillation imagine how many more people suffering an out of hospital Cardiac Arrest may be saved within our community.”
The team is actively seeking new members to strengthen local emergency coverage.
Community First Responders play a critical role in the early minutes of an emergency, often delivering lifesaving interventions while paramedics travel from Coffs Harbour.
Activated through the ‘000’ system, local responders can reach patients within 10 minutes due to living and working in the Orara Valley, remaining on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To boost volunteer numbers, local responders recently met with Member for Coffs Harbour and Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh, Orara Valley Community Action Network member Jodie Nancarrow and Idle In café owner Alison Johnson to discuss ways to encourage community involvement.
Jodie Williams noted, “Gurmesh being a volunteer with the Rural Fire Brigade understands the importance of having enough volunteers to avoid burnout and fatigue.”
The group decided to host a public first aid demonstration aimed at residents from Nana Glen, Glenreagh, Coramba, Bucca and surrounding areas, with the hope of inspiring interest in the program.
The demonstration will be held on Sunday 18 January from 5.30pm at Idle In café, Nana Glen, followed by a sausage sizzle.
Attendees will see hands-only CPR techniques, defibrillator use and snake bite first aid, reflecting seasonal risks in the region.
“So many community members are terrified of taking the defib out of its container and using it, so we’ll show them how.
“It is really a very simple piece of equipment to use, it tells you what to do, starting with the words ‘stay calm’.”
Demonstrations will be led by Nana Glen CERT members Barry Butler and Jodie Williams, alongside Glenreagh CFR’s Chris Hansen, using adult and baby manikins.
“Our wish is to gain a new member or two or six, and for people to walk away with the knowledge that they can help save a life.”
Anyone interested in attending can contact Jodie Williams on 0421 193 317.
By Andrea FERRARI
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