St John WA’s Denmark sub-centre has received a welcome upgrade in its training equipment thanks to a generous grant from a volunteer’s employer.

Denmark resident Barry Steed is an emergency medical assistant with St John WA, but his day job is with Dredge Robotics, a Perth-based dredging company that provides its robotic dredges to industrial and mine sites around WA, reducing the number of people needed on the ground to dredge on-site water storage and ponds.

Last month, Dredge donated around $3000 to the sub-centre, enabling it to buy new paediatric CPR simulation training mannekins, and refurbish some of their existing adult mannekins.

The mannekins are used to train volunteers and community members on the latest CPR techniques, and the new models are fully integrated with the ambulance’s portable ECG and defibrillator machines so the technology can give volunteers live feedback on how effective their CPR technique is.

Mr Steed is one of more than 30 volunteers who crew the ambulances at the Denmark sub-centre, providing emergency response and first aid at community events.

He is formerly an offshore diver and said he got involved as a St John volunteer because he wanted to find a way to give back to his community that suited his practical skills and adrenaline-seeker nature.

“We attend a broad range of call outs, from people who have suffered falls and medical emergencies to farming incidents and motor vehicle accidents,” he said.

“Our team also supports community events, providing first aid at local music concerts and downhill mountain bike competitions.

“Our Denmark team is always keen to hear from new volunteers.

Volunteering with St John WA is not only a chance to learn life-saving skills, it’s very rewarding, social and a great way to give back to the community.

St John WA Denmark volunteers attend emergency response situations across the region, from Lowlands Beach and William Bay to Walpole and Rocky Gully.

Mr Steed said training with newer, more realistic equipment such the new mannekins would help new and established volunteers develop their confidence and consistency so they could be at their best in real-life emergency situations.

Dredge Robotics’ co-founder and chief executive officer Antony Old said the company was proud to support its employees such as Mr Steed who took time to volunteer with organisations like St John.

“When there is an accident or emergency, St John WA volunteers are often the first on the scene,” he said.

“Dredge Robotics is incredibly grateful for community volunteers like Barry, who play a vital role to help keep regional communities safe.”