A NEW vehicle dedicated to being the first on the scene at emergencies will benefit the community, according to Hunter Valley Rural Fire Service (RFS) manager Paul Jones.
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The Coal & Allied Community Development Fund donated $33,500 towards a new four-wheel-drive that will provide initial support in emergencies like motor vehicle accidents, child births or remote farming accidents, before an ambulance or paramedic arrives.
The vital service is provided by Community First Responders, a joint initiative between the NSW Ambulance and the RFS.
“Thanks to Coal & Allied, this vehicle – to be stationed at Bulga – is the first of its kind in the Hunter Valley, helping us to respond to more emergency calls, faster and more efficiently,” Mr Jones said.
“Having a dedicated four-wheel-drive will greatly improve response times to medical emergencies.
“Allocating an appropriate vehicle to respond to an emergency situation has been an ongoing challenge for the RFS.
“We have been relying on using fire trucks which are not set up to carry the addition medical equipment.
“Now we can permanently store lifesaving equipment in the vehicle, provide better access to rural properties, improve communication with other emergency services through new radios with better reception, free-up firefighting vehicles and not be held back with special licence restrictions for driving the vehicle.
“It would take us a lot of time and effort to raise sufficient funds for a Community First Response vehicle, which is outside the supplied firefighting equipment, so to receive this donation from Coal & Allied means a lot.”
The newly-appointed chair of the Coal & Allied Community Development Fund committee, Rio Tinto Coal Australia managing director Chris Salisbury, said the four-wheel drive could be a lifesaver in many situations.
“This emergency response vehicle is the first community project I am pleased to be involved with as the new chair of the committee,” he said.
“It’s great to hear first-hand the value this vehicle will have in the community from the wonderful local volunteers of the RFS in Bulga.
“The Rural Fire Service Community First Responders provide vital services to our local community and we are proud to help them better respond to emergencies with a new light vehicle.”
