The Hato Hone St John Waitaki Area Committee recently installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) at the centre.
The safe and easily-operated machine is used to treat sudden cardiac arrest.
Committee secretary Anna Haugh said every day about six people in New Zealand suffered from cardiac arrest in the community.
Early bystander intervention involving three key steps — performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), calling 111 for an ambulance and applying an AED — can more than double survival rates.
Miss Haugh was happy the community centre was now equipped with what was a valuable resource.
"... knowing that this machine can help to save someone’s life, it’s a feeling of satisfaction, that it is there and available for when it may be required."
The move to install the AED followed a Neighbourhood Support Community Safety Day in Ōmārama in July last year and the device was funded by an initiative called Project Moo.
Project Moo is a calf-rearing fundraiser initiated by the Hato Hone Waitaki Area Committee in 2017, where calves are raised for two years then sold.
The funds raised were donated to the committee, which chose to support the AED project.
Miss Haugh said the committee appreciated the contribution farmers made to the fundraiser as well as the efforts of community groups that had applied for funding to buy their own AEDs.
"We would like to also thank them for their role in ensuring there are accessible AED machines in our community."
Waitaki Valley now had publicly accessible AEDs in Ōmārama, Duntroon, Kurow and the Hakataramea Valley and the committee was working towards getting more into the community, she said.
A community training session, called Three Steps for Life, will be offered at a future date.
More information about the free programme can be found on the Hato Hone St John website.
