10
May 2003
Emergency Services Minister Mike Reynolds today launched a
new first aid initiative in the Pine Rivers Shire, the Samford First Responders
Group.
Mr Reynolds said the group was a great example of people in
the regions showing their ingenuity and using it to do something positive to
help their community.
“The Samford community can be justifiably proud of this
achievement. These people often give up their precious time to help out and I
think we all should acknowledge and appreciate their devotion,” he said.
The Minister said the Samford First Responders Group was
among the first to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the QAS to formalise
the establishment of First Responders Groups.
“Members have completed or renewed their senior First Aid
certificates, and have also completed their Advanced Resuscitation and
Automatic External Defibrillation courses,” he said.
“Additional education was provided by QAS paramedics and
this continues every fortnight for the group.
The
Samford First Responders Group has been provided with three trauma kits, oxygen
therapy equipment, automatic defibrillators and communications infrastructure.
“This group started operations in late February and members
have already attended more than 40 incidents ranging from severe trauma to
medical conditions.”
Group
members respond to medical emergencies using portable radios to communicate the
condition of patients directly to paramedics who are on their way to the scene.
“As the Minister for Emergency Services, I am continually
applauding the efforts of our Department’s 85,000 volunteers and this is
another shining example.
For
further information contact Justin Coomber 3247 8195 or
Karla
Steen 0407 582 041.