One of the scenarios volunteers worked on at the Careflight trauma care workshop in Parkes on Sunday. (Photo: CareFlight)
Emergency services in Parkes and Forbes received a boost on Sunday when CareFlight hosted a unique community education workshop for 14 SES and RFS volunteers.
CareFlight’s trauma care workshops are one of a kind and are provided at no cost to participants. Lifelike medical manikins, simulated accident scenarios and specially-designed simulation equipment aid in the recreation of a high-pressure, hands-on environment, ensuring the training is realistic, applicable and improves participants’ ability to connect learning to real-world situations.
In addition to lifesaving skills, personnel are armed with essential leadership, teamwork, situational awareness and communication skills that will help them respond to traumas.
Head of education and training at CareFlight, Colin Brown said it was the third time in 11 years that CareFlight had hosted the workshop in Parkes. “It is one of our favourite workshops and we love doing it in country towns like Parkes.”
He said the feedback from the participants was fantastic. “Talking to them afterwards they said it was really helpful, especially as they were often the first people to arrive at the scene of an accident or emergency.”
“Some of the practical aspects they learned were how to manage patients in a particular situation, how to triage patients and what to do when they have more patients than resources.”
CareFlight was able to bring the training to Parkes thanks to government grants, and is part of CareFlight’s grassroots initiative to create a resilient and healthier community. In collaboration with local groups and their members, CareFlight is building confidence in the emergency response abilities of locals in the community.
CareFlight’s Community Education workshops are coordinated by experienced doctors, paramedics and nurses who train first responders.