Ambulance has introduced a new Triple Zero (000) Emergency Phone Simulator that will be used to educate young children about calling an ambulance. The phone simulator is fitted to a training phone and installed in our Mobile Education Unit.

While the majority of callers to Triple Zero (000) are adults, we do have instances where young children are calling for help for a person who has fallen ill or been in an accident. Using the simulator phone, the kids can dial Triple Zero (000) and hear an audio clip of a young girl calling for an ambulance and the kind of questions they can expect from the operator.

The simulator phone will be used in conjunction with the Be an Ambulance Hero: Dial Zero Zero Zero program. The program has been developed for children in kindergarten, Years 1 and 2 and aims to equip students with simple decision making skills, increase awareness of the difference between a little accident and a big accident including how to identify an unconscious person. As part of the program, children are educated on how and when to call an ambulance in emergency situations. >Back to top

We currently have three Mega lift ambulances - based at Macquarie Fields, Caringbah and Blacktown. They have been operational since 2002 and are mostly used for bariatric patients who weigh greater than 180kgs or those who have too large a girth for the standard ambulance stretcher.

NSW Minister for Health, Reba Meagher inspected the vehicles recently at the Sydney Ambulance Centre. Ms Meagher said “Obesity stands alongside our ageing population as the most significant challenge facing our health system”.

The Mega lift ambulance requires two specially trained paramedics and contains a large weight carrying stretcher, a large wheelchair and specialist carry sheet, a hover mat which carries up to one ton as well as standard medical equipment.

“It is important that we find better ways for our health system to manage overweight and obese patients, and these ambulances are one example of that. What is more important, is that we all work to find ways of reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity – so that people are living healthier lives and we can better manage the financial burden on our health system.”

For information about leading a healthy lifestyle, visit the NSW Health Live Life Well page. >Back to top

It can be daunting enough for adults to call for an ambulance in a medical emergency but often it is children who are left with the responsibility when their parent or carer becomes ill or injured.

When the brave actions of children are brought to the attention of the Ambulance Service we like to recognise them. There is a special award available for presentation to children called the Star Award and quite often the Ambulance Service can arrange for children and the patient to be reunited with the Ambulance call-taker and paramedics who assisted them during the emergency.

It is very important for all children to know the number to call in an emergency and the Ambulance Service has introduced an education program to all primary schools in NSW called Be an Ambulance Hero: Dial Zero Zero Zero to support the learning of this message.

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: Six year old Shannon Coceancic dialled Triple Zero (000) when her father experienced an allergic reaction at home and his breathing started to deteriorate. Shannon’s quick actions enabled paramedics to provide life-saving treatment for her father. >Back to top

Last month the NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher officially opened the new Dubbo Ambulance Station.

Dubbo Ambulance Station is part of a $14.4 million program funded in the 2007/08 Health Budget to redevelop ambulance stations at Dubbo, Auburn, Liverpool, Port Macquarie and Ryde. Planning is also underway for new ambulance stations at Nelson Bay and Deniliquin.

The new $1.98 million station at Dubbo will provide paramedics with a modern base from which to deliver high quality pre-hospital care for the local community well into the future .

Dubbo Ambulance Station has a staff of 22 paramedics and accommodates a fleet of seven ambulance vehicles. It provides 24-hour ambulance services to the local community and staff respond to approximately 7,800 incidents each year.

This new ambulance station reflects the growth in population in the area and the increasing demand for ambulance services and will better meet the needs of both ambulance staff and the community.

View the current locations of Ambulance stations across NSW.

Photograph: NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher cuts a ribbon officially opening the station with the assistance of Station Officer Grahame Edwards. >Back to top

The first 12 Extended Care Paramedics are out
on-road in Western Sydney after completing their initial training as part of the Ambulance Extended Care Paramedic (ECP) program.

The ECPs will focus on patients with minor injuries and illnesses such as lacerations and wounds, sporting injuries, falls, and minor back pain and where appropriate, identify and initiate alternative non-emergency department care such as community GPs, co-located GPs, hospital based services, or community based services.

The ECPs have been selected from experienced paramedics who are already highly trained, skilled and experienced in identifying emergency or high risk patients.

The paramedics have all undergone an initial eight week clinical training course at the University of Sydney Nepean Clinical School and will have continuing ongoing clinical training. “Traditionally, when paramedics respond to calls for assistance patients have had only two options: to be transported to a hospital emergency department or to refuse or decline transport,” says Dr Jason Bendall, Ambulance Extended Care Paramedic Manager.

The ECP program is based on the United Kingdom’s Emergency Care Practitioner program that has been piloted for approximately five years. Our program has been tailored for NSW in collaboration with key stakeholders including NSW Health, area health services, hospitals, divisions of general practice and Ambulance with each contributing to the design of a program aimed at meeting local needs.

Photograph: Extended Care Paramedics following their graduation ceremony that was held at Ambulance State Headquarters, Rozelle. >Back to top

A helping hand for families at Christmas
Last year Ambulance State Headquarters at Rozelle extended an invitation to all staff to help the Salvation Army support families in need at Christmas by collecting non-perishable goods and small household items.

Ambulance and the Salvo’s developed a plan to ensure goods donated locally would reach the homes of families in need in that specific area.

Included in every package delivered to families was a Christmas card and fridge magnet promoting important Ambulance community messages and reminding people to call Triple Zero in an emergency.

We look forward to more stations jumping on board with this worthwhile initiative next year.

Photograph: Ambulance staff with some of the goods collected that were handed over to the Salvation Army for distribution. >Back to top

Ambulance Rescue show off their skills
The Ambulance Rescue Unit was on display at the recent Nowra Show to show the Shoalhaven greater community their rescue skill capabilities during a simulated motor vehicle accident.

In a first for the show, a simulated motor vehicle accident scene was set up in the showground main arena and the action began.

Paramedics were called to reports of a single car motor vehicle accident in which the driver of the car was seriously injured. Ambulance was deployed to the scene under lights and sirens to assess the situation.

On arrival, paramedics found a 25 year old female in a serious condition and first on scene paramedics requested backup from the Ambulance Paramedic rescue crews. Show Onlookers were able to hear all the dialogue from the scene through a loud speaker including the initial Triple Zero call, the request for backup, the radio transmissions and the dialogue between the paramedics on scene and the rescue scenes.

Bomaderry Paramedic rescue had to cut the car into pieces to extricate the patient from the car using their specialist machinery. The “patient” was taken from the scene in a serious condition. >Back to top