Sometimes it can take paramedics 20 minutes to reach a patient in need of emergency assistance, time they might not have.
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That's where a special group of passionate volunteers do their part to help save the lives of fellow residents.
On Thursday, nine new Community First Responders from Tocumwal, Culcairn, Henty, Captains Flat and Clarence Town commenced their eight-day course with NSW Ambulance.
One of the keen new members was Henty's Andrew Tassle, who decided to sign up after working with Fire and Rescue NSW.
"It is something I am passionate about," he said.
"I have been with FRNSW for about three months, and it is incredible, this is one way that I can evolve my skills.
Mr Tassle acknowledged the role is not something for everyone, but he was more than willing to make the sacrifices.
"It is a job where you have to be prepared to more than your life on the line - you have to put your livelihood, and even those changes to your social life on the line," he said.
"If you have the passion, and your keen you should get involved."
Steve Trood, a paramedic educator, said the CFRs are a group of volunteers who will be dispatched to an emergency incident to assist while paramedics are on their way.
"We bring them up to an advanced first aid level," he said.
"In the smaller towns, they can be responded as a fire or SES unit but to do a medical job.
"So if someone has chest pains in Henty, it might take us 20 minutes to get there so these guys will respond and start initial treatment and then handover to us."
Mr Trood said it is an essential service for regional areas, and after their training, each will be awarded a Certificate II Medical Services First Response.
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Kirsty England, an educator for clinical volunteers, said the course involves a thorough online component and often.
She added that volunteers can sign up through the local Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and State Emergency Service.
"It does not replace paramedic services," Ms England said.
"But if we have someone on the scene immediately it can be the difference between life and death."