The advanced training session is something local SES crews do each month to keep them at the top of their game but in October were joined by students wanting some extra training themselves.

NSW SES Port Macquarie unit commander Michael Ward said it was a great night that helped boost everyone’s skills.

“The SES are the primary responders for floods, storms and motor vehicle accidents in the Hastings and as such we are constantly training so that we remain highly qualified,” Mr Ward said.

“We are constantly doing training but once a month we do an advanced training night which is where we go over some of the more intense rescue scenarios.

“This is so that when we are called to an emergency we are across what needs to happen and can react at a moments notice and without hesitation.”

Mr Ward said the addition of first year paramedic students from Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie was a great way to mix up the training.

“We now have a partnership with CSU and it was a good opportunity for us and the students to enhance our skills,” he said.

“When we attend jobs we are usually working with other emergency services and when the paramedic students leave university so will they, so it was good to see that interaction in a training setting.

“For the students it was good for them to see how busy, chaotic and loud a crash scene can be and learning how to do you job despite all of that is essential.

“But what we do is all about learning how to save lives and protect the community and to have them on board so early in their training is great.”

He said on the night the crews were faced with a car and bike crash along with injured pedestrians.

“There were two scenarios one where a bike and car had crashed and injured pedestrians and another where something had fallen from a height into a car.

“We were able to replicate injuries in quite a bit of detail so it looks pretty full on but in this case it was all for show.

“We try and make everything as realistic as possible so that we can get the most out of our training exercises.”