Local St John gets vital rescue equipment thanks to community fund

The Twizel/Mount Cook St John is gearing up to install two new pieces of vital rescue equipment in its Twizel based Ambulances, thanks to more than $10,000 of support from the Meridian Waitaki Community Fund.

The volunteer organisation provides ambulance services to an area covering the Lindis Pass, Otematata Saddle and Mt Cook through to Irishman Creek. Each year it responds to more than 150 call-outs, clocking up around 26,000 kilometres.

Rick Ramsay, Chair of the St John Twizel/Mt Cook Area Committee, says the new equipment will allow the service to maintain communication and respond to cardiac arrests when its frontline ambulance is out of the area.

“The satellite phone will be a vital piece of equipment for our service because radio and cellphone reception is poor or non-existent in many places,” he says. “On a recent rescue our efforts were hampered when communication was lost between the Communications Centre and Ambulance Officers in a helicopter responding to an accident in a jet boat behind the Ben Ohau Range. A satellite phone would have allowed direct communication for updates and advice.

“The satellite phone will also be valuable in civil defence emergencies when cell-phone and landline communication may be lost. It would have been difficult to raise the funds for this gear so we are grateful for the support from the Meridian Community Fund,” he added.

Before the new equipment is commissioned, the St John team will undergo extensive training. The new satellite phone provides up to 30 hours of stand-by time and is resistant to water, dust and shock, making it ideal for the rugged conditions the St John team faces.

The voluntary organisation also received funding for a new defibrillator for its first response vehicle to complement the one in its front line ambulance.

“The new defibrillator is essential because our main ambulance is often out of the area carrying patients or attending emergencies,” he says. “This means that if we were called to a cardiac arrest within our coverage area we would not have the equipment necessary to resuscitate the patient.”

Chair of the Meridian Waitaki Community Fund, Mark France, says the new equipment will help ensure the St John team has the resources necessary to provide a vital service to the community.

“St John volunteer services around New Zealand do an incredible job to ensure the safety of the communities in which they operate,” he says. “Organisations such as this rely on community support and donations to carry out their important work, whether it be rescue call-outs, or having a presence at community events. We are pleased to be able to support Twizel/Mount Cook St John’s worthwhile initiative.”

The Meridian Waitaki Community Fund is to the value of $1 million over three years and is managed by a panel of community members and Meridian staff, who work together to help decide which local initiatives are supported.

Applications for consideration in the next round must be submitted by 2 June 2009