Narooma VRA gets support at a busy time

Volunteer Rescue Association squad training officer Mal Barry said the volunteers in the first three months of the year had already responded to 14 incidents, which was more than all of last year.

The incidents had mostly been road traffic accidents, including the tragic fatal accident involving German backpackers at Brushgrove Lane, Central Tilba on January 7. Other incidents included the recent truck roll-over on the Brown Mountain and also a cliff rescue down at Eden.

Mr Barry said the Narooma rescue squad was gaining a reputation as being experts when it came to extracting patients from crumpled vehicles and also doing vertical cliff rescues, and were often called upon by other rescue agencies and emergency services across the Far South Coast.

The squad received a helping hand this week when the Narooma Sporting and Services Club donated $9394 for the purchase of two large air bags and three smaller air bags that are inflated to lift vehicles to allow access for patient extraction.

The squad this week gave a demonstration of how the air bags once inflated and used in conjunction with wooden chocks could lift up the Club Narooma courtesy bus.

Also purchased was an steering wheel air bag protection system that covered unexploded airbags to protect patients and rescuers after an accident.

Mr Barry said these pieces of equipment were vital and would replace the squad’s existing air bags that were now about 15 years old and no longer met safety requirements.

“The old lifting air bags are 15 years old and we are not allowed to use them anymore, so this donation is just what we need,” he said. 

Narooma Sporting and Services Club general manager Tony Casu said his organisation was keen to assist the VRA rescue squad in purchasing this vital life-saving equipment.

“In addition to supporting community and sporting groups, the safety of the community is very much in the forefront of the minds of our board,” Mr Casu said. “It’s all about your community, your club.”

Narooma Golf Club also recently offered its support to the squad providing funds to purchase four new harnesses for vertical cliff rescues.

Mr Barry said the Narooma VRA rescue squad was trained to conduct road and cliff rescues, but also general land search and rescues.

It was also looking for new members, both to be trained for rescues but also in administration and support roles. And anyone interested was encouraged the regular training sessions at the Narooma VRA headquarters located on Golf Lane behind the Marine Rescue NSW building.

There was regular training on Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm and everyone was welcome.