At Whangerei Traumed Conference

We've visited St John Headquarters - various department including Archives, LogisticsAfter sharing each other's stories about jobs on the various Auckland  night shift we  spent today as tourists with  Karl, Event Operations Coordinator, around Auckland then to the Police Crash Unit and on to the Rescue Helicopter base - 2  smaller helicopters for Auckland - on the waterfront.


Some of the differences we have found, apart from the vehicles are their different manual handling techniques... like lifting the paitent in the larger orange chair stretcher up into the back of the ambulance. 
                    carrying the patient in the chair up and down steps with only 2 crew
                   not strapping in any patients to the stretcher
                  only 1 person to load and unload stretcher with patient
                 liquid  panadol is given for pain relief and to reduce temperature
                 O2 only given to those with low O2 saturation
                 only  ICPs can give Midazolam
                 MRX sitting on the second stretcher, not secured and crew stepping over the leads
                  across the isle
                "Scoops: are used instead of long boards..  I'd like to see these used as it would save
                log-rolling a patient or moving them to get them onto a long board  (if needed)

                volunteer crew go out with paid paramedic or upskilled or advanced paramedics as  the
               second crew member... in smaller rural station all volunteers
          
               volunteers can be trained by St John to paramedic or higher level but they are changing to  a degree system for paramedics.

Thursday night we arrived at Whangerei and taken out to a beachside restaurant by  Tony Devanney  District Operations Manager, Mark Going   and Wally Mitchell, Rural Support Officers and  Sam Johnanson - Ambulance Team Manger, joined by Bridget and Nichola who drove us up here from Auckland.

Today's sessions were:   ECGs and Thrombolysis.....  Epilespy..... Sitman - preparing and running scenarios using mannikins..... pre-hospital care for the critical patient.
There was a variety of clinical levels from  first aiders, Primary Care 1 and 2, Ambulance Officers and Paramedics - all very keen.

I've tried to add photos but they won't upload so  will try another time. 

Cheers  Heather