CFR 18, the NSW Ambulance Wingham Community First Responder Unit was officially introduced to the community on Saturday, November 23 at Wingham Services Club.
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The event was held just hours before the service went live at 12.01am on Sunday.
Ten Wingham Fire and Rescue NSW retained firefighters completed the induction training in August and September and graduated in a special ceremony on Saturday night in front of their families and invited guests.
Special guest speakers included deputy commissioner David Dutton of NSW Ambulance, chief superintendent Greg Houston and assistant commissioner Rob McNeil of Fire and Rescue NSW.
Wingham fire captain David O'Donnell said the training he and his crew received over the past few months was intense.
"It was absolutely empowering to the whole crew," he said.
The graduates received their Certificate II Medical Services First Response.
The recent bushfire emergency in the Manning saw the crew put to the test sooner than expected.
"We've already had to implement the training in recent weeks," added captain O'Donnell.
The program will now see CFR 18 dispatched to ambulance triple zero calls in Wingham as well as paramedics.
The firefighters have received extensive medical training to be first on the scene and are able to provide life support measures until paramedics arrive.
Wingham is the 13th CFR station in NSW and it has taken two years to implement the program in the town.
Superintendent Desiree O'Brien of NSW Ambulance addressed the recruits at the graduation evening.
"It's an enormous job," she told them.
"Some people think this is a first aid course on steroids," she added.
"This is certainly not the case."
Addressing the community members in the audience she asked them to be confident in the team's newly acquired skills.
"You have every reason in the world to be very proud of this team," she said.
In his closing remarks, Fire and Rescue NSW chief superintendent Greg Houston thanked the Wingham community.
"I can guarantee you are in good hands," he said.