Port Stephens SES Unit will buy new life-saving equipment for its first response vehicles after receiving a second cash boost from the NSW Government.
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The Raymond Terrace-based SES unit was in February granted $27,260 to purchase an emergency generator.
On Friday, Port Stephens duty MLC Catherine Cusack announced that the unit had been granted $6300, which will be used to buy two defibrillator units and two oxygen resuscitation kits.
Port Stephens SES unit commander David Douglas thanked the NSW Government for the funding and said it would enable them to provide a better service to their community.
“This money will enable us to purchase the tools we need to save lives in our first response vehicles undertaking regular emergency operations,” he said.
Port Stephens Liberal candidate Jaimie Abbott welcomed the funding announcement.
“With more than 60 volunteer members, it is vital they are supported with the equipment they need to keep our community safe,” she said.
“The… unit is involved in flood rescue, road crash rescue, industrial and domestic rescue along with storm and tempest rescues.
“They are often the first to arrive on scene at emergency situations so their first response vehicles need to have the best equipment available and on-hand to save lives."
In 2017/2018, Port Stephens SES received 179 requests for assistance.
This year, they have already responded to 124 requests for assistance.
Ms Cusack said NSW SES also provides the majority of general rescue efforts in the regional parts of the state.
“Having a defibrillator on-hand can increase the chance of saving the life of a cardiac arrest victim by about 75 percent and having an oxygen resuscitation kit on hand can vastly improve a victim’s chance of survival,” she said.
“NSW SES has more than 9000 volunteers that support our communities around the clock, so it is vitally important that we support them with the equipment they need to keep us safe."