August 2009 Newsletter
Article Date: 28th July, 2009 | 113 Views | 0 Comment(s)
GIVE WAY TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Did you know that every 4 minutes an emergency vehicle uses lights and sirens on Western Australian roads to assist someone in a LIFE THREATENING situation?
As a Volunteer Ambulance Officer, one of the most frustrating things I have come across is vehicles not giving way to the ambulance when we are using lights and sirens. As it says above, we only use lights and sirens when we are going out to a patient that may be in a LIFE THREATENING situation or we may already have the patient onboard in a critical condition. Regardless of where you are driving, please keep checking your mirrors, keep your music turned down to a suitable level so that you can hear sirens and don't try to outrun us. It only causes more problems for us as we are trying to give our patient who is in a critical condition, a smooth but quick trip to hospital.
How do you recognize an emergency vehicle? Any vehicle with flashing blue or red lights can be an emergency vehicle. The most common emergency vehicles you may come across are - Ambulance, Police or Fire Service.
What do I do when I encounter and emergency vehicle while I am driving? DON'T PANIC! Check where the emergency vehicle is coming from and give way to it if safe to do so. Move to the left if you can. If you cannot move left, slow down or stop and let the emergency vehicle drive around you.
Can I break the law to give way to emergency vehicles, for example, driving through a red light? No you cannot break the law to give way to an emergency vehicle.
Can I be penalized for not giving way to emergency vehicles? YES! It is an offence not to give way to an emergency vehicle. The penalty is a fine AND loss of demerit points.
Please remember "EVERY SECOND COUNTS"
Advanced Ambulance Care Course (AAC) The weekends of 18th & 19th and the 25th & 26th of July were a busy time for Waroona Sub Centre as we hosted an Advanced Ambulance Care course. This is an ongoing commitment by all Volunteer Ambulance Officers, where they refresh their advanced life and resuscitation skills over the two weekends with both theory, practical situations and written exams. The training was conducted by Paramedics (Susie, Siobhan and Mark) from Head Office in Belmont with the aid of a Volunteer (Bob) seconded into the assisting role.
Some of the Ambulance Officers attending the course came from as far afield as Pinjarra, Mandurah, Harvey, Pingelly, Bridgetown, and Boyup Brook. One of our local ambulance officers, Peter, completed his refresher course.
Our Thanks go to all who made this event the success that it was - Trainers, Students, Catering and all those in the background.
General
June has been relatively quiet with our crews attending 15 callouts. We are always looking for more people to help our current hard working volunteer ambulance officers. If you can spare some of your time to learn life saving skills and give something back to the community that you live in please feel free to contact Judy Chalmers on 0437 412 963 or visit our website www.waroonaambulance.com.au
RETHINK YOUR HEROES. BECOME A VOLUNTEER.
Upcoming Training Nights 7:30pm (come along and experience what we do):
Thursday 6th August 2009
Thursday 27th August 2009
Thursday 3rd September 2009
Judy Chalmers
Volunteer Ambulance Officer
