New Ambulances

politikos said :

I don’t understand why first aid isn’t in the school curriculum. It is in the USA!

problem is, that the carers – parents, grandparents don’t have a good understanding of new first aid methods. look at choking. Heimlich maneuver isn’t used anymore, due to the damage it can cause internally, as well as crack a child’s rib.

but when my mother in law saw my daughter choking, the first thing she did was work out which way her hands went to perform the maneuver. I had to just slap my daughter between the shoulder blades to dislodge the piece of food.

I don’t understand why first aid isn’t in the school curriculum. It is in the USA!

Everyone should purchase at least one CPR mask (Not the plastic sheet type – but the proper over mouth and nose plastic mask – and keep it in your car.

These help keep biohazards down for both parties, make a better seal than a mouth on mouth and will help in the event of a victim wearing a helmet.

In saying so I do not have one in my car, I know I should, but Mrs Danman does.

simbo said :

I dunno – if basic CPR training brings people back to life (and … well, not to brag or nothing, but I did some CPR about five months ago, having not done first aid training for almost 20 years), then it does rather better than having a lot of people who have no idea what they’re doing at all hanging about.

CPR is a basic, fast, useful skill, and one that you hopefully can never lose. Full first aid training takes longer and, while yes, it helps too, not everyone has time to do the whole thing.

what, 2 days?

rather know basic first aid skills to identify potential harm to the person,
like not to remove a helmet from a bikie who has been knocked off his bike in an accident, and keep them calm, if they are conscious. (if they stop breathing, you have to make a judgement call, but it is a difficult thing to do, considering the damage to their neck or head in the helmet)
someone who is trapped in a car – how to provide cpr if required
how to deal with most minor accidents

Whilst CPR is a good thing to know, other first aid techniques may play a minor, yet critical role as well.

simbo said :

I dunno – if basic CPR training brings people back to life (and … well, not to brag or nothing, but I did some CPR about five months ago, having not done first aid training for almost 20 years), then it does rather better than having a lot of people who have no idea what they’re doing at all hanging about.

CPR is a basic, fast, useful skill, and one that you hopefully can never lose. Full first aid training takes longer and, while yes, it helps too, not everyone has time to do the whole thing.

TIt changes though. Last i heatrd it was 30 comps for 2 breaths but 100 comps / minute, that is exhausting!

I dunno – if basic CPR training brings people back to life (and … well, not to brag or nothing, but I did some CPR about five months ago, having not done first aid training for almost 20 years), then it does rather better than having a lot of people who have no idea what they’re doing at all hanging about.

CPR is a basic, fast, useful skill, and one that you hopefully can never lose. Full first aid training takes longer and, while yes, it helps too, not everyone has time to do the whole thing.

The Mercs are used by pretty much every Metro Ambulance Service in Australia, if they had major problems I’d doubt they’d be using them. Interesting that they all have bullbars, the factsheet says they’re perfectly safe though.. and used mostly for running down kangaroos.

nanzan said :

Becoming a paramedic takes something like three years of training

Guess it depends. My mate in Queensland has just started with their paramedic/ambulance equivalents in Brisbane. He’s a cabinet maker by trade, and has been for almost 20 years. He’s been thinking about a career change for ages, and I guess this one is most certainly a change!

He’s undergoing a 6 week training course with them (ie, on the job, being paid, he’s already been accepted etc) and then commencing real life duties!

Now I’m not sure whether he will also be enrolled in some sort of degree or diploma whilst he commences his work…. but he certainly has no medical background or training prior to starting last week!!

Actually it may not help – the links was empty! The history is interesting though…

Have a look at:

http://www.esa.act.gov.au/ESAWebsite/content_actas/about_us_pages/history_page/history.html

Interesting stuff.