Drakesbrook Despatch June 2011 Newsletter
Article Date: 1st June, 2011 | 347 Views | 0 Comment(s)
In February and March 2011 St John Ambulance Waroona did 13 and 12 callouts respectively. When you think of the very small number of active Volunteer Ambulance Officers, you realise just how much time this takes out of their family/social life. On average each job takes approximately 3 hours but depending on the circumstances (eg. motor vehicle accident) this can sometimes extend out to 5+ hours. Then of course there is the refuelling, cleaning and restocking of the ambulance so that it is ready for the next call out (not to mention the refuelling and restocking of the very weary and ravenous ambos). As well as doing any jobs there is also training (twice a month) and reaccreditation needed to enable us to stay with St Johns. All this time is spent so that we can provide a vital service to the community of Waroona by doing something we all love. I will be honest and say that there are times when I myself get a bit jaded and cynical, but all in all it is a very rewarding and sometimes challenging (by the way it's not the patients that are challenging, :-) it's the other ambos) part of my life that I have tried to leave several times but fortunately or unfortunately, I haven't quite worked that one out yet, my fellow ambulance officers know me extremely well and know exactly which buttons to push to get me to come back.
If you're looking for something worthwhile to do with your life, come and see us. I have made friends that will be with me for a lifetime and others, well...... No I'm just joking. We have a lot of fun and we are a relatively tight knit group adding more members as we go along. Having grown up in Waroona, I finally feel like I'm giving something back to the community that nurtured me for all those years. So don't hesitate and don't think it's all "blood and guts", we're just ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You can too!
Reaccreditation
I'm very happy to say that I have just completed the Primary Ambulance Care Refresher (PACR) and the Advanced Ambulance Care Refresher (AACR) over four days (two weekends). The PACR was a bit of a killer having to practice each basic skill and then do them again in front of a trainer to be "signed off" on them. The hardest thing about the weekend was the simulated exercise (SimEx) that each of us had to do on the first Sunday. All I can say is, put me out on scene where it's all happening for real and I can breeze through it (which is lucky for you guys), but put me in a room being tested and I'm a nervous wreck. Needless to say I passed the SimEx even though I was the last one to do it so everyone else got to watch. Compared to this, the AACR was easy. Advanced skills and medications with three exams was nothing compared to the stress of the first weekend.
Senior First Aid Course
The next Senior First Aid course is being held on the 11th and 12th June 2011 from 8:30am to 4:30pm at a cost of $160.00. Call Carol on 9733 2122 to book your place as these courses tend to fill quickly.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The next AGM of St John Ambulance Waroona Sub Centre will be held on Monday 15th August 2011 at the Waroona Sub Centre. The time will be advertised in the next issue. If you wish to have a say in how your local ambulance service is run then this is the time to put in an application form to become a committee member. For further details please contact our Secretary, Carol on 9733 2122.
A St John Ambulance Volunteer is an important person, someone who donates a few hours of their time to put something back into the community.
We are always looking for more people to help our small group of hard working ambulance volunteers. 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 our Secretary, Carol Racco on 9733 2122 on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 9:00am and 1:30pm 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 2nd June 2011
Thursday 23rd June 2011
Judy Chalmers
AAC Ambulance Volunteer
