Nine volunteer first responders are now part of a local team operating a new Hato Hone St John (HHStJ) First Response Unit (FRU) based in Foxton.
Launched on Monday 14 July, the Foxton First Response Unit will serve the people of Foxton, Foxton Beach, Himatangi, Shannon, and surrounding communities.
The vehicle consists of a Hyundai SUV equipped with emergency lights and sirens, and important resources, such as a defibrillator, a comprehensive first response kit, and the equipment required to manage a patient’s airway.
It will bolster community resilience in the event of medical emergencies and support transporting ambulances, including the Foxton ambulance.
Katrina McGuinn is one of the nine volunteers who have completed six months of comprehensive training ahead of the unit launch.
A well-known local, she is balancing her new Hato Hone St John role with owning the Foxton Beach Four Square with her partner, volunteering for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and being a busy parent.
Katrina says positive feedback from her store customers suggests members of the Foxton community are delighted.
“When Allan and I first moved to Foxton Beach with our two young kids eleven years ago, we arrived with no wider family support. Since then, the local community has gone above and beyond to support us and our business and volunteering in frontline services is one way I can give back.
“To be part of Hato Hone St John has also been a motivation in joining, as it’s something I have been interested in long before getting into retail. If you couldn’t tell, I love to keep myself busy!”
Katrina emphasises how important the new first response team is, especially for the local elderly population.
“It will provide more reassurance for residents by knowing there is additional help readily available. It is a great addition to the existing services in the community, including the health shuttle which supports people needing to attend medical appointments.”
As part of Hato Hone St John's goal of improving health equity, first response units play a vital role in delivering effective and timely patient care in rural and remote communities.
FRU teams can quickly locate, assess, and begin to treat patients prior to the arrival of a transporting ambulance. This improves response times and leads to better health outcomes for patients.
“With our workload continuing to increase, this new unit will make a positive difference to our pre-hospital care capabilities. The team will respond to a variety of incidents that are high acuity, life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrests or major car crashes,” says Gareth Collings, Hato Hone St John Area Operations Manager – Mid Central.
“We are truly thankful to have this strong and dedicated team of volunteers onboard to serve the public and work alongside our paid ambulance staff. They are also now part of a valued network of emergency volunteers in the area, including the volunteer fire brigades who we collaborate with to serve the community.”
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Hato Hone St John media team