Motorcycling Australia recently launched their road safety campaign. This campaign aims to raise awareness about safe riding, wearing appropriate clothing and riding to the conditions. Of the 31,000 motor vehicle crashes attended by Ambulance last year, many involved motorcycles. All too often, paramedics treat motorcyclists who have been seriously injured as a result of not wearing appropriate safety gear/equipment, including a helmet. Motorcycle Paramedic Ryan Salter attended the launch to reiterate the campaign’s important messages as well as giving a paramedic’s perspective on what he sees as mostly avoidable injuries.

“In almost every accident I have seen, it could have been avoided or the injuries significantly reduced if the rider had behaved differently prior to the crash or worn appropriate clothing” Ryan said.

Over the coming months, a commercial featuring rider Chris Vermeulen will be launched across Australia as well as extensive print media to promote rider safety. For further information regarding the launch go to www.ma.org.au

Photograph: Chris Vermeulen with Station Officer Ryan Salter at the launch. >Back to top

NSW Health recently renewed its public health advice to the community with a timely reminder to be alert for the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease as the number of cases generally increases in the lead up to winter and spring.

Meningococcal disease is rare; it is extremely serious and can be fatal. Young people, especially those under the age of 25, and parents of young children were urged to make sure they have received the meningococcal C vaccine that protects against one of the strains of this serious disease.

Early identification and treatment of the disease is vital and so it is important to remain vigilant for the signs and symptoms. The classic symptoms can include: a blotchy purple-red rash; high fever; headache; neck stiffness; sensitivity to bright lights; nausea and vomiting and drowsiness.

Most cases of meningococcal disease are seen in infants, young children, teenagers and young adults, although people of any age can be infected. It is vitally important to realise that many classical symptoms, especially those such as neck stiffness and photophobia may be absent, particularly in children, and the typical rash may signal a late presentation. Parents or carers may only notice more non-specific symptoms such as leg pain, cold extremities, pallor in the presence of fever, laboured breathing, decreased responsiveness and an unwillingness to make eye contact. Early detection and treatment can, in the majority of cases, result in full recovery, so it is vital to have a high index of suspicion, especially in young children. > More information on meningococcal disease.

Photograph: Most cases of meningococcal disease are seen in infants, young children, teenagers and young adults, although people of any age can be infected. >Back to top

Four year old Chanele Angelos had a visit from Ambulance Media and Bankstown Paramedics Nathan Hall and Tony Miller who presented her with an ‘Ambulance Star Award’ for her assistance when her two year old brother sustained a burn injury to his arms and face.

Nathan and Tony were particularly impressed by her courage and maturity and the great assistance she provided to them when they arrived at the family home. Her assistance meant that little brother Deon was able to get to hospital quickly.

Ambulance Media is keen to provide awards to children who display brave actions during an emergency. This is part of the ‘Be an Ambulance Hero: Dial Zero Zero Zero’ school education program aiming to educate young children on dealing with emergencies and understanding what to do and what the emergency number is.

For information designed for children on calling an ambulance visit the Ambulance website. If anyone knows of a situation where a child has had to call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance we would love to hear your story and perhaps nominate the child for a Star Award. Contact the Manager, Community Relations by email: community@ambulance.nsw.gov.au or tel: 9320 7795.

Photograph: Chanele with Bankstown Paramedics Nathan Hall (left) and Tony Miller. >Back to top

Ambulance’s Patient Transport Service (PTS) is turning 10! The service began on 14 April 1998 with 16 trainee patient transport officers located at 10 stations across the Sydney Metropolitan area.

Ten years later, there are PTOs stationed as far north as Tweed Heads and south to Bomaderry with a strong contingent in the Sydney Metropolitan and the Central Coast areas.

The PTS provides non-emergency transport for patients requiring no active monitoring, whose condition is of a non-life threatening nature and are not well enough to travel by private or public transport. Non-emergency ambulance transports includes admissions to and from hospital, inter-hospital transfers, nursing home transports and patients requiring day treatment.

PTOs play an important role in the community, both in carrying out routine non-urgent transports but also keeping front line paramedic crews available to respond quickly to potential life threatening incidents. This service is available from Monday to Saturday and all requests for non-emergency transport must be authorised by a doctor. A medical authority must determine, according to the patient’s condition, whether it is appropriate for them to be transported by the PTS or an emergency ambulance.

PTOs undertake a four week inservice training program at the Ambulance Education Centre at Rozelle. On successful completion of their course PTOs are issued with Certificate 2 Pre-hospital Care qualification, which is VETAB accredited. PTOs are trained to the level of Ambulance First Aid (basic first aid skills) with advanced resuscitation skills. They have the ability to administer oxygen therapy and monitor pulse and breathing rates. >Back to top

Health Minister Reba Meagher has announced a $1.2 million upgrade of ambulance vehicles with the purchase of state of the art navigation equipment. The funding will allow the installation of satellite navigation units and reversing cameras in all emergency ambulance vehicles.

Over the past two years Ambulance has been using this equipment in the Rapid Reponse vehicles which has proved to be very beneficial. Initially the new satellite navigation units will be trialled in six ambulances: two units in Tamworth, two in Wagga Wagga and two in Bankstown. The trial of the six units will provide the opportunity to establish training requirements and operating protocols for satellite navigation units in dual crewed ambulances.

Part of the upgrade will involve fitting a reversing camera onto ambulance vehicles. Vision will then be streamed from the camera through to the satellite navigation unit. Reversing cameras greatly improve safety for pedestrian traffic, especially small children, and reduce reversing collisions.

These units will enhance the opportunity for improved performance and safety for paramedics during their daily tasks.

Photograph: NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher addressed the media on Ambulance satellite navigation and the reversing cameras. >Back to top

Norah Morrison and Norma Worsley, were each presented with a Zoll watch following their near death experiences late last year. Both women suffered cardiac arrests approximately one week apart and were successfully reverted by the same ambulance crew.

On Monday 17 December 2007, Trainee Paramedic Selena Baker and Alison Spring from Menai Station were called to attend a doctor’s surgery at Engadine. On arrival, Intensive Care Paramedic Libby Hanrahan and a Caringbah crew were on-scene. The patient, Norah Morrison (the doctor’s receptionist), had collapsed behind her desk while at work. Norah had a history of cardio myopathy and had a pacemaker. With the help of effective CPR by the doctor and surgery nurse prior to our arrival, Norah was successfully reverted on-scene. After spending 10 days at Sutherland Hospital, she now has an internal defibrillator.

One week later, on Christmas Day, Selena and Alison had just ‘sparked up’ the BBQ for their Chrissy lunch, when they received a job at Bangor to a cardiac arrest. With a speedy response time of only three minutes, they found Norma Worsley receiving CPR from her daughter.

With the whole family looking on, Norma was shocked three times while in ventricular fibrillation. When Intensive Care Paramedic Libby Hanrahan arrived, the patient was in a sinus bradycardia. She was transported to Sutherland Hospital where she spent four weeks, and had an internal defibrillator fitted.

It was a nice experience for the paramedics to catch up with the ladies during a morning tea at Menai Station recently. Both are doing very well and enjoying life with their families.

Photograph: Left to Right: Paramedic Alison Spring, Norah Morrison, Norma Worsley, Intensive Care Paramedic Libby Hanrahan and Trainee Paramedic Selena Baker. >Back to top