Regional volunteers had a boost to their training repertoire at the weekend when St John WA brought their Volunteer Road Trauma Training and Show to Narrogin.

Supported by RAC, the event on Sunday saw St John WA with the help of Narrogin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service demonstrate to first responder volunteers new patient extrication techniques and life-saving trauma management skills such as tourniquets and chest seals.

The free event was hosted at the Narrogin Hawks Football Club on Clayton Road and was open to St John WA volunteers as well as interested members of the general public.

St John WA district support co-ordinator of Wheatbelt South Susan Wettenhall said the hands-on demonstration was invaluable.

“Bringing the RAC Trauma Roadshow to Narrogin provides a rare and valuable opportunity for our community to witness emergency response in action, learn life-saving skills and gain insight into how we work together to keep people safe,” she said.

“We are truly grateful to RAC and the organising team at St John for making this possible.”

The training comes as road deaths in regional WA reach a 10-year peak, with a spate of tragedies occurring around the Wheatbelt region this year.

Volunteers in Albany, Broome, Kalgoorlie and Pinjarra have already experienced the travelling roadshow, which will next move onto Geraldton on October 31 and Belmont in Perth on November 7.

St John WA volunteer education manager Scott Fraser said the training boosted volunteers’ confidence in life-threatening situations.

“When someone is seriously injured on the side of a road, the quality of care they receive in the first few minutes can make a significant difference,” he said.

“We’re always looking for innovative ways to bring training and knowledge to our 4000-plus volunteer ambulance officers across the State.

“Thanks to RAC’s support, we can bring that education directly to our volunteers, helping them understand, practice and confidently apply new trauma care principles, while ensuring they feel supported as they prepare for some of the most challenging incidents they may encounter in their communities.”

RAC head of communications Rhys Heron said the partnership between RAC and St John hoped to reduce the ever-rising road fatality numbers.

“Our new partnership means the roadshow can reach even more regional places and equip more volunteers with the knowledge they need, to deliver lifesaving treatment when it’s needed most,” he said.

“With our road trauma crisis continuing to escalate at an alarming rate, it’s never been more important to support our first responders so that they can respond to road trauma as safely and effectively as possible.”