Omarama residents will tomorrow celebrate the arrival of their new emergency first response unit after raising about $90,000 during the past year to pay for it.
The new four-wheel-drive Nissan Navara, which carries a new defibrillator, will be on show between 11am and 2pm at the Omarama Fire Brigade's station and the public day is to recognise those who contributed to the new equipment.
Fund-raising events, donations and grants have helped pay for the new vehicle, while Meridian Energy's Waitaki community fund provided $27,000 towards the purchase of the new defibrillator.
Omarama and Districts First Response Trust chairman Craig Dawson said yesterday the old defibrillator was coming to the end of its operational life and did not meet new requirements.
The new unit was far more sophisticated, giving a more accurate diagnosis of the patient and better assessment of treatment and transportation requirements.
"Our emergency response vehicle was also ageing and it had become too small to house all the equipment required on a call-out," he said.
