Drakesbrook Despatch Newsletter February 2012
Article Date: 1st February, 2012 | 292 Views | 0 Comment(s)
A few of us decided to do rostered shifts over the period between Boxing Day and New Years Day as there were a few of us on holidays. These shifts consisted of a day shift (8am to 6pm) and a night shift (6pm to 8am). Between seven ambos we managed to have a crew in depot for six complete day shifts, four complete night shifts and two night shifts that were covered from 6pm to midnight (and then we were all on call from home). Funnily enough it turned out that all the crews were male/female crews. We all kept busy by thoroughly going through the ambulances and checking all the equipment and stock, disinfecting the complete insides of the vans and then annoying each other when we got bored. The first nightshift I did with Drew, Pete kindly let us use some inflatable mattresses which we had set out in the main area under the air conditioning. I had to pump mine up by foot which was apparently quite hilarious but the funniest thing was watching Pete and Drew trying to pump up this big king single double storey air mattress with this tiny little compressor. All I can say is the photo I got says it all!!! I finally got mine pumped up and thought I was set for the night only to realise when I lay down on it later that it made me feel decidedly sea sick! At some point during the night I ended up sleeping on the floor. Drew finally got his mattress up to standard and thought he was the bees knees because he could lay back on it and watch TV. Well Karma came back and bit Drew on the backside because at around 1:30am Drew realised his luxurious double storey mattress had deflated. Unfortunately I didn't see any of it because I was snoring but Drew tells me he was trying to blow it up with his eyes closed and his forehead resting on the mattress (that I would have liked to see). Rather rudely, other ambos tried to blame me for the mattress going down implying that I had sabotaged it but sadly I didn't think of it otherwise I would have because it would have made up for all the exiting of rather smelly air that was coming from Drew when he was asleep (actually it was happening when he was awake as well). I tried to stay upwind from him but that was a bit hard when the air cons at either end of the room were on full blast. I'm sure just as funny things happened on the other shifts but they're just not game to admit them. New Years Eve night was a bit of a fizzer. Jacinta and Mark did the day shift and Drew and I did the whole night shift. Mark and Andy did from 6pm to midnight. Drew and I were all pumped and ready for action but were severely disappointed when we went for a drive at 12:30am and found that the whole of Waroona was tucked up in bed. So we decided to go and annoy two of our boys in blue that were doing car checks on the highway (amongst other things). Needless to say after about half an hour we did one last bog lap around town and headed back to the depot. I'd like to say a big thank you to Drew, Jacinta, Jo, Mark, Pete and Andy (and their families) for giving up their time over the festive period. I don't know about you guys but even though it was fun and we didn't do many jobs, I was exhausted!
2011 Statistics
Total Community Hours 3,028.74
Jan - Dec Jobs 156
Ambulance Officer Hours 776.1
Patient T/fer Vehicle Officer Hrs 114.9
Internet Site www.waroonaambulance.com.au
I'd like to acknowledge the work that Patrick Templeman Twells does on our website. Patrick has donated his time and enthusiasm to create and maintain the website and he does a fantastic job (even though he is a firey). Thanks Patrick!!
RETHINK YOUR HEROES. BECOME A VOLUNTEER.
