Following this meeting on the 28th February the EMS Today conference begins in Baltimore, Maryland.  EMS Today features quality content that focuses on the future of EMS and will provide every attendee with relevant and relatable information you can take home and use right away.  Meet new people, become a part of a world-wide network and share you passion for out of hospital care.

EMS Today is also co-located with the International Conference on Disaster and Terrorism Preparedness.

When: 23rd February to 4th March (returning to Australia on the 7th March)

Book through the group and receive a discount on conference registration.  RSVP to Helen by 01/01/12.

For further information see the attached brochure 1 and brochure 2 contact Helen Eyles at helen.eyles@paramedics.org.au.

Our new name is Paramedics Australasia.

The motion was put to the membership following a unanimous board recommendation. At the specially convened EGM a secret ballot was conducted allowing the maximal representation of the membership by proxy voting. 79.23% of eligible votes were in favour of the motion and as such it was carried.

Paramedics Australasia will migrate progressively to the new name including website, stationary, and logo over the coming months.

The board is grateful to all members who attended the EGM, submitted proxy votes, and  have participated in this significant event in our history.

The devastation and tragic loss of life caused by the floods is deeply shocking and must be putting an enormous strain on paramedics and other emergency services workers many of whom, as you have said in your letter, have themselves been personally affected.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the people of Australia as the disaster in Queensland unfolds particularly coming so soon after the devastating bushfires In Victoria.

We sincerely hope that the worst is over and that there is no further loss of life.  We hope that our counterparts in Queensland come through this dreadful experience safely and that the recovery phase is reached quickly and implemented as effectively as is possible in such circumstances.

Please convey our sympathies and heartfelt wishes to your members and all emergency services workers.  They will remain in our thoughts as the aftermath of this disaster is confronted.

Yours sincerely

Andy Newton

Chair

College of Paramedics

United Kingdom

The full letter in PDF is available here - 120111 – ACAP Floods

I extend warm wishes to everyone for the New Year.

Sadly, we realise that not everyone in Australia has been fortunate enough to enjoy the festive season. In particular at this time our attention is drawn to those people affected by the devastating floods in Queensland.

The ACAP Board are thinking of all those in Queensland, and in particular our members, who are directly or indirectly impacted by this event. These floods have been the worst to hit our country in decades and many, many people have lost their homes, livelihoods and in some terrible cases, their lives. Whilst recovery operations have commenced in some locations, there are parts of the state that are continuing to brace for more rain and even more flooding.

I have been able to talk with Rod Sheather, Chapter Chair for QLD, and was inspired by some of the stories related to me. The paramedics from Queensland Ambulance Service are performing admirably in situations of overwhelming adversity. Paramedics are being relocated from lesser-impacted areas to assist in the food emergency zones, maintaining a strong tradition of supporting others in times of need. Some paramedics are performing this work after personally losing homes and property due to flood damage.

The Queensland Government has launched an appeal to help fellow Queenslanders affected by the floods. If you would like to donate or learn more about the relief effort please go to http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html.

I would like to extend from ACAP to our QLD colleagues, our thoughts for your safety and very best wishes. Be safe and take care.

Regards

Alan Eade ASM FACAP

Vice-President

Download the PDF of this document here: ACAP QLD Flood Letter

In this land before Associate Diplomas, Degrees and Graduate Diplomas, ACAP (then the Institute of Ambulance Officers) played a huge role in the education and continuing education of fledgling paramedics.

This perpetual nurturing of our professions young continues today in various forms, including the Student Paramedic’s Association (SPA) and the funding of attendance for relevant conferences.

Capitalising on last year’s funding success, ACAP Queensland is providing financial support for three student paramedics to attend this year’s SPA Conference at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne on July 2.

Student’s Daniel Townson (3rd year QUT), Annie Tanner (1st year QUT), and Bridget Campbell (2nd year USC) are set to attend the jam packed one day conference program (themed ‘See into the future) next month.

While largely focussing on the future, the program also includes traditional style lessons such as a review of the Black Saturday bush fires and the patient’s perspective.

Interestingly the program has been tailored to the principally Gen Y audience with more contemporary subjects such as working overseas, Gear and gadgets of the future and the changing face of aeromedicine and intensive care practice (for a full program visit the website).

While largely focusing on the future, the three fortunate students will also take part in a long-standing ACAP tradition, that of information sharing.

On return our trio of students will present a report to the ACAP Queensland AGM as well as produce articles for use by their Universities, SPA, Response magazine and other media sources.
The students who are at various levels within the Bachelor programs will also have the opportunity to network with other students and professional paramedics from around the country.

Daniel said, “This will be a fantastic opportunity to learn and network. I attended the SPA and ACAP conferences last year and was fascinated by how business is done differently in the varying parts of Australasia”.

“ACAP has been outstanding in their support for Students within Queensland and I know we as a group appreciate the experience of the paramedics involved in the organisation as well as the financial leg up to attend the conference”.

For further information visit www.studentparamedic.org.au .

Discussions ranged over several of the current issues involving the delivery of EMS including funding arrangements, portfolio responsibilities, community based emergency health services, and the need for national registration of paramedics. The discussions were fruitful and a further meeting has been scheduled for 29 June.

ACAP intends to prepare a submission to provide comment on the new standards and is seeking feedback from ACAP members – particularly in Queensland – who have knowledge of how the standards relate to or have been used in EMS practice.

The Standards have been in use since July 2007 and appear to have been used primarily as a guide to improve service in Queensland’s hospitals. However, the HQCC has a responsibility for ambulance services under its Act and the Standards need to be examined in the light of their application to Emergency Medical Services and paramedic best practices.

The draft standards are available from http://www.hqcc.qld.gov.au//home/inner.aspx?pageid=488

Members are encouraged to provide feedback directly and to better inform the ACAP submission by emailing any comments as soon as possible to rbange@bigpond.net.au.

With these activities being extremely popular, Mr Sheather said, “We wanted to alert people to the potential for contracting leptospirosis or Canecutter’s Disease as it is largely referred to in parts of regional Queensland”.

First recognised in Queensland by two Ingham Doctors (in Canecutters) leptospirosis is contracted by coming into contact with one of over 200 forms of leptospira bacteria that are found in infected animal urine and tissue.  Initially believed to be solely from rats, leptospirosis can be contracted from infected mammals such as native animals, rats, mice, cattle, dogs, cats, pigs and sheep.

“Most commonly leptospira enters the body through broken skin but infrequently people can be infected through the mouth, nose and eye linings.  Infection can be from direct contact with the animal itself such as farm or wildlife workers or from soil, mud, or water that has been contaminated with animal urine”, Mr Sheather said.

“With floods having recently effected large parts of Queensland we are warning people the ground or stagnant waters may contain leptospira that has washed out of bushland or other habitats and presents a risk of infection”.

Symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of fever, debilitating headaches, painful muscles, chills and vomiting.  While often used interchangeably, leptospirosis can progress to the more severe form called Weil’s disease, which can include symptoms of kidney and liver failure, meningitis, bleeding in the lungs and can ultimately be fatal.

Mr Sheather said, “While very treatable with anti-biotic regimes we recommend prevention as the greatest form of cure.  This can be done by staying out of flood water wherever possible, wearing shoes or other protective footwear when bushwalking or camping, covering any broken skin with waterproof dressings and maintaining good hygiene when working, gardening or camping.  The leptospira are killed by simply washing with soap or disinfectant and drying thoroughly”.

“While this disease has been very well recognised and largely prevented in the male farm worker population for many years and is not as common as many others, some health organisations believe it is under recognised.  Due to leptospirosis mimicking other diseases such as influenza it is believed to be under recognised or under reported by between five and twenty percent”, Mr Sheather said.

Jamie, a flight paramedic based in far north Queensland, was tragically injured during the course of his duties in early November. Due to the extent of his injuries Jamie will have a long period of rehabilitation. (for more details see Emergency Magazine, Dec 09, Pg 6)

QAS Commissioner David Melville said Jamie faces a difficult road to recovery. ‘To assist Jamie and his family through his recuperation, the QAS continues to offer any support that we can and I have also requested the establishment of the ‘Jamie Jackway Appeal’, which is now in operation,’

Donations can be made directly to the following account:

Account Name: Jamie Jackway Appeal
Bank: Queensland Police Credit Union
BSB: 704-052
Account: 103 918 7

ACAP Qld is fully supportive of this appeal and will donate $5,000 to assist Jamie and his family. Jamie has given much of himself in his service to others. It is now time for the ambulance family to support one of their own.

Please give generously.

Australian College of Ambulance Professionals Queensland Chair, Rod Sheather says, “Having raised children I understand the daily frustrations of kids forgetting their lunch, shoes and the seemingly endless list of extracurricular attachments but when did we allow ourselves become so consumed by petty annoyances we let it affect our family’s safety.  More Queensland parents are dropping their children at school, ‘just to be on the safe side’ but act in a manner which endangers others”.

Every school year Queensland Paramedics see the results of split second decisions made by harassed individuals.  Rushed actions and distracted thoughts while behind the wheel leads to injury and in the worst cases death.

“Take just 30 seconds to imagine how your life could change if you injured a child.  Picture the Police enquiry, the court date, the nightmares, the looks from other parents every time you dropped your child at school and that’s just the beginning”, Mr Sheather says.

Children are unpredictable. They run and ride across roads, walk behind and between cars and buses and generally don’t do what they should.  The little ones may be excited or apprehensive about school and acting out while the older ones are chatting with friends, checking mobile phones for that latest message and generally not paying attention.  All these distractions mean road rules around the school are not necessarily the first thing on their young minds.

“As the 2010 school year gets into full swing, plan for a leisurely trip to school. Leave home 10 minutes early to avoid the cattle crush that is peak time at our schools.  Take the time to ensure you have everything you need for the kids return to school, including a fridge stocked with healthy lunch alternatives.  Prepare everything you can the night before so it’s not such a rush in the morning”.

“For those whose children travel on buses or ride bikes, talk to them about road safety and how to arrive without putting themselves in danger”, Mr Sheather advises.

“Tragically, our Paramedic members have seen injuries and young lives cut short in what were avoidable circumstances.  Leave early, avoid distraction and keep an eagle eye out for children just being children.  Remember accidents involving children have a ripple effect within our community with many scarred for life”, Mr Sheather advises.

“This week signals a return to school for 2010.  We are pleading with everyone to make this an accident free start.  In the end it’s in all our interests”.

View print copy here.

Video game consoles were reported to be an extremely hot seller this year, but in our land of the great outdoors another very popular kid’s gift is the mini, quad or trail motorbike.  While a huge hit with the kids, in some houses children as young as five have received these potentially hazardous machines.

Australian College of Ambulance Professionals Queensland Chair, Rod Sheather says, “Australia in general has seen vast increases in the number of children and adolescents requiring Emergency Department treatment for motorcycle injuries.  In one state, figures from the first half of this decade showed an almost 10 percent increase per year in these numbers”.

“With the vast majority of these occurring off-road it was staggering to see almost one third of those injured weren’t even wearing a helmet.  The figures come from a research paper published in the prestigious Medical Journal of Australia in 2008 (more recent figures unavailable) and show a very alarming trend“, Mr Sheather said.

“There seems to be an attitude in some corners which says off-road riding be it in the bush or down the park, is a bit of harmless fun for the kids, but our paramedic members are seeing the results when things go wrong.  The fun day out in the fresh air could end with broken bones, a trip in the rescue helicopter, a visit to the surgical theatre or all three”, Mr Sheather said.

“The subject of whether kids should be riding mini, quad or trail bikes is an extremely controversial one with strong opinions on both sides.  All we are saying is if you intend to let your children ride these machines be aware they are not toys and ensure you have the proper safety equipment. A pair of boardies, thongs and your best singlet doesn’t offer a great deal of protection when you come off or hit something”.

“For the best protection you need a properly fitted full face helmet, kid’s leathers which are now being produced by several companies, boots and full finger gloves.  While this bumps up the price of the original ‘hit gift’ so will Doctors bills, not to mention the pain and suffering involved for the children”.

“This has to be recognised as a sport involving risks that require both the proper gear and constant supervision by a responsible adult”, Mr Sheather said.

View print copy here.

“Everyone was watching the kids but we couldn’t see the bottom…it wasn’t until the four year old told us his brother was asleep on the bottom that we noticed.  It happened so fast”.

“My husband dived in and pulled our little angel out…he was just a limp, pale, ghostly image of the boy who had been playing happily just minutes before…he wasn’t breathing and his heart had stopped”.

“One of the men who had learned CPR at work started to breath for him and compress his chest”.

“It seemed forever before Paramedics got to us.  Later we found out they had arrived six minutes from when we called.  Everything was happening so fast, but it just seemed like a slow motion nightmare”.

“By the time he was in the Ambulance my beautiful little boy had drips and tubes coming out of him everywhere…it was awful”.

While based on actual events this story does not reflect one parent’s story.

Rod Sheather, Queensland Chair of the Australian College of Ambulance Professionals says, “This story is not from one ‘neglectful’ parent.  This story is one which almost every experienced Paramedic in Queensland could relate to you.  Caring, loving parents who have let their gaze wander for the shortest of times only to find the worst has happened Do not let this happen to you this summer!”.

“This is a nightmare scenario, sometimes you wake up and everything returns to as it should be.  In some cases the outcome is disastrous and the nightmare doesn’t end.  Last year (2008/2009) eight children under four drowned in pools while a further four drowned at beaches, in bathtubs and waterways.  Statistics also show in Queensland around 50 children will present to hospitals with a life-threatening immersion”, Mr Sheather said.

“This summer we are asking anyone who is looking after children near water of any sort, from a bathtub to an ocean to remain ever vigilant and learn to perform CPR.  Too many Queensland families have been affected by a drowning tragedy”.

“This includes our Paramedics.  They train extremely hard to effectively deal with these difficult and emotionally charged situations, but when it is over and for the rest of their lives they too will be affected by these tragedies.  Most will be able to recall every detail of each critically ill child they have ever treated”, Mr Sheather said.

“All we ask is when kids are in or near the water there is a constant eyes-on approach to prevent another untimely death of Queensland’s most precious resource”.

View print copy here.

“To prevent untimely deaths this summer we are urging anyone with friends or family, or those caring for people in the risk categories to ‘buddy up’ and stay cool for summer”, says Mr Sheather.

“Research from both Australia (Brisbane) and Overseas has shown the number of people who suffer a cardiac arrest and die increases with above average temperatures during summer.  Surprisingly, the risk is not just high spikes in temperature but prolonged above average temperatures for a number of days”, Mr Sheather explained.

Canadian research showed the elderly, those on certain medications and those with pre-existing illnesses to have a particularly high risk during these periods.  Timing and duration of heat waves also appeared important in the research, with those arriving early in the season having higher death rates than those later in the season.

“Each year our Paramedics are called to individuals who are very sick with heat related illnesses.  The heat and humidity contained in some of these people’s homes can be incredible.  Our membership often reports the temperature and humidity within some homes to be worse than the conditions outside”, Mr Sheather said.

“At times older people need to be reminded to lay off the cups of tea and drink adequate amounts of water.  In this sweltering heat and humidity it is also important to open windows to circulate air, rather than sitting under a fan in a closed up house.  Fans just recirculate the heat contained in the house adding to the problem”, Mr Sheather advised.

“This summer we are asking everyone to ‘Buddy up’ and take responsibility for reducing the risk of heat related deaths and illness in those most vulnerable.  Check on any elderly neighbours”.

“Looking out for someone may be as simple as ringing each day to remind them to open the windows and to drink plenty of water.  Other measures could include using air-conditioners in a cost wise way, having more frequent cooling showers or taking a trip to an air-conditioned venue during the hottest part of the day”, Mr Sheather said.

“Our Paramedics are very skilled at dealing with heat related illness but prevention is the key.  No one should go through the unnecessary trauma of heat related illness or the loss of a loved one, all for the want of some education”.

Signs of dehydration and heat related illness include:

Headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, lethargy, hot or dry skin, muscle cramps, and back pain.

View print copy here.