Hash House Harriers

Volunteer Ambulance Officers Association of Tasmania Incorporated
Vol 14 No 4 - May 2010
Hash House Harriers - Red Dress Fun Run
L-R: Graham ‘‘Grizzly’’ Faulks, Wayne Doran, Beverley ’’Wee Bev’’ Curry, Cheryl Wilson, John ‘‘Honkers’’ Ellsmore
A total of 80 runners attended the event (most in
frocks). The run itself cleared $1,102. The raffle was
exceedingly well patronised and thanks to the generous donation of items from Hashers, helped to increase the total raised. The notes from the raffle, plus
donations received on the run, was $875. It took 25
minutes to put the coins through the coin machine,
which had to be emptied once.
Total coin from run and raffle was $1,440.95. So
the total useable money raised by the Hashers for the
VAOAT was $3,417.95. Other donations were: 2 ($1
US notes), 1 ($2 NZ coin), 5c US, 5c Fiji & 5c Euro.
A BIG, BIG THANK YOU to the Hashers for their
very generous support to the VAOAT.
More details on pages 12 & 13
IN THIS EDITION ......
PHIL’’S THOUGHTS - 'Never say die'
2 BREAM CREEK SHOW - recruitment country-style 10
HI FROM K.I. - the President / New Forums for you 5 JOINT TRAINING AT LEWISHAM - sea & sand
11
IT’’S NOT ALL LIGHTS & SIRENS - invitation to all
7 HASH HOUSE HARRIER - Red Dress fun run
12
GUMLEAVES MCI - from my point of view
8 MOSTLY MEDICAL PUZZLE / WORD SEARCH
15
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 -
I
read the following tale in The Tasmanian Justices’’
Journal, the official journal of the Honorary
Justices’’ Association of Tasmania Inc. It contains
news, hints and examples to keep JPs up to date. There is
also a page of anecdotes from which I have taken this
story, reading more like a Hitchcock film script I found it
very intriguing and entertaining.
On March 23. l994, a medical examiner viewed the
body of Mr. O. and concluded that he died from a shotgun
wound to the head. Mr. O, had jumped from the top of a
ten-story building intending to commit suicide, he left a
note to the effect indicating his despondency.
loaded. The continuing investigation turned up a witness
who saw the old couple’’s son loading the shotgun about
six weeks prior to the fatal accident.
It transpired that the old lady had cut off her sonȇs
financial support and the son, knowing the propensity of
his father to use the shotgun threateningly, had loaded the
gun with the expectation that his father would shoot his
mother. Since the loader of the gun was aware of this, he
was guilty of the murder even though he didn’’t actually
pull the trigger. The case now becomes one of murder on
the part of the son for the death of Mr. O.
Now comes the exquisite twist.
As he fell past the ninth floor, his life was
Further investigation revealed that the son was, in
interrupted by a shotgun blast passing through a
fact, Mr. O. He had become increasingly
window, which killed him instantly. Neither
despondent over the failure of his attempt to
the shooter nor the deceased was aware that a
engineer his mother’’s murder. This led him to
““...it was a
safety net had been installed just below the
jump off the ten story building on March 23rd,
long-standing
eighth floor level to protect some building
only to be killed by a shotgun blast passing
habit to threaten
workers and that Mr. O would not have been
through the ninth story window.
able to complete his suicide the way he had
his wife with
The son, Mr. O, had actually murdered himself.
planned.
the unloaded
So the medical examiner closed the case as a
shotgun. "
The room on the ninth floor, where the
suicide.
shotgun blast emanated, was occupied by an
That’’s it, if this was a true tale, and truth is
elderly man and his wife. They were arguing
stranger than fiction, could someone murder
vigorously and he was threatening her with a
themselves?
Just a thought.
shotgun! The man was so upset that when he pulled
the trigger he completely missed his wife, and the
pellets went through the window, striking Mr. O.
Cheers - Phil Dennis
When one intends to kill subject ““A”” but kills subject
““B”” in the attempt, one is guilty of the murder of subject
““B””. When confronted with the murder charge, the old
man and his wife were both adamant, and both said that
they thought the shotgun was not loaded. The old man
said it was a long-standing habit to threaten his wife with
the unloaded shotgun, he had no intention to murder her.
Source:
The Tasmanian Justices’’ Journal,
3rd Quarter 2009
Therefore the killing of Mr. O. appeared to be an
accident; that is, assuming the gun had been accidentally
Promote Volunteer Ambulance Officers
VAOAT Polar Fleece Vests & Polo Shirts ~ now available
(For social functions only, not to be worn on cases or when representing TAS)
x Polo Shirt (short sleeves) with VAOAT logo, range of colours, S to 5XL ~ $25.00
x Polo Shirt (long sleeves) with VAOAT logo, in navy, black or white, plus a limited range
of other colours (contact Marg & we’’ll try to accommodate you), S to 3XL ~ $30.00
x Navy Blue Vest with VAOAT logo, sizes from XS to 3XL ~ $30.00
To order, contact - Marg Dennis 4 Nevin Street, Rossarden 7213
Tel/Fax: (03) 6385 2147 Email: mldennis@skymesh.com.au
OR go to our website’’s Online Shop
2 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
ON MY SOAPBOX
As you will no doubt be aware by now, the VAOAT
committee has had to cancel the proposed Gathering on
King Island, due to lack of funding. It was the only
decision we could make in the circumstances and the
lateness of it tells you that we were hopeful to the last. The
VAOs who had registered for the event will obviously be
disappointed, but spare a thought for the King Island
VAOs who have worked so hard to organise venues,
accommodation, flights, and a programme. So to all the
King Islanders - file that information away for next time,
and there will be a next time!
At Avoca the Angels are gearing up for the launch of
our book ““It’’s Not all Lights & Sirens””, on May 22nd. You
will no doubt realise that the date coincides with what was
to have been our Gathering on King Island - yes, I goofed.
All staff are welcome to join us at Avoca, not quite in the
same league as a weekend on King Island, but you will be
just as welcome.
Meanwhile the crew at Coles Bay are busily organising
the next Gathering over on the coast. Nola approached us
last year at Gumleaves, offering to host a Gathering and we
hope that this may be the way to go in future. We are keen
to choose venues across the state - within our budget, of
course. The committee is exploring the idea of using local
VAO groups as sub-committees of the VAOAT for specific
Gatherings. This would reduce the workload for the
committee members - remember, we are all volunteers and give more VAOs involvement in the process.
So keep checking our website & vGate for updates on
the Coles Bay Gathering and keep hounding the media
with good news stories about VAOs (within confidentiality
constraints, of course). We need people to know that VAOs
are an integral part of Ambulance Tasmania,
contributing in a voluntary capacity to
emergency service response in Tasmania
every bit as much as SES and Fire
volunteers.
Bye for now,
Margaret
WORKING WITH YOU FOR A
STRONG COMMUNITY
Newsletters like this one help to keep the
community informed and strong, I’’m proud
to be able to assist with the production of
this newsletter.
Please contact my office if I can assist you
in any way.
53B Main Road
P.O. Box 50,
Perth 7300
58A High Street
P.O. Box 271
New Norfolk 7140
Phone: 6398 1115
Fax: 6398 1120
Phone: 6261 3366
Fax: 6261 1030
Toll Free Call: 1300 132 689
Email: D.Adams.MP@aph.gov.au
Written and Authorised by Dick Adams, 53B Main Road, Perth, Tas. 7300
Congratulations
x George Hudson was awarded the title of Senior
Citizen of the Year in the Glamorgan-Spring Bay
Municipality. George is a long standing VAO at
Bicheno and plays a big role in the VAOAT as
Committee member, East Coast Rep and Association
Rep on three TAS committees - Fleet, Equipment &
Uniform.
x Bruny Island Volunteer Ambulance Officers received
the Australia Day award for a community group in
Kingborough municipality, this was accepted by Leigh
& Janice Higgins.
Coles Bay Gathering
November 2010
Our next Gathering will be at Iluka Holiday Resort,
Coles Bay, in November - exact dates to be confirmed.
x 5 members of the Bothwell VAO unit received
National Service Medals –– Faye Davie, Tanya Lovell,
Judi Turner, Raymond Edwards & Wayne Doran.
Marg Dennis
WHY DO WE SAY?
*** Coroner***
Keep checking our website for further details.
VAOAT Committee
From the Anglo-French curuner meaning crown + er.
Originally charged with protecting property of the
royal family. Their main function now is to hold inquests
as to causes of death.
Phil Dennis
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 - 3
WHAT IS IT?
LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND
While playing Frisbee on the beach one fine summer
day, you notice a small commotion taking place about 100
metres down the shore. Running to investigate, you find a
20-year-old man who has just been pulled from the water
lying unconscious on the sand. He does not appear to be
breathing, and his colour is slate gray. You should:
a) Quickly turn him to his side to drain the water out of
his lungs.
b) Turn him over prone and use the back pressure/arm lift
(Holger Nielsen) technique of artificial ventilation.
c) Keep him supine and use the chest pressure/arm lift
(Silvester) method of resuscitation.
d) Tilt his head back, and if that manoeuvre fails to
produce spontaneous breathing, start mouth-to-mouth
ventilation.
e) Straddle the patient and perform a Heimlich
manoeuvre to get the water out of his lungs.
After you have been working on the patient for just a
few moments, he begins to revive, and within 2 or 3
minutes he is fully conscious and alert and states he feels
perfectly fine. You should:
a) Have him run up and down the beach for a few
minutes to get his circulation going again.
b) Give him some water or juice to drink, since he is
bound to be dehydrated.
c) Tell him that it’’s all right to stay at the beach, so long as
he doesn’’t exert himself.
d) Instruct him to go home and rest there for a day or
two.
e) See to it that he is taken to the hospital, preferably by
ambulance, for evaluation.
Answers on page 14
What does this picture depict?
Answer on Page 14
Appreciation for a job well done
~ a good news story
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter on behalf of my father.
He requested that I write a letter of thanks to the 2 men
who saved his life.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning my father
required the services of ambulance officers.
Dad being a 77 year old lung cancer sufferer had a
massive heart attack at his home where he lives alone. He
does not even remember calling 000 but remembers some
of the outstanding service and care that the officers
showed to him.
Dad lost consciousness during the time the officers
were with him and is adamant that he would be gone if it
were not for their quick actions and expert care.
As Dadȇs next of kin I received a call from the doctor at
the hospital around 7am Wednesday morning requesting
that the family gather to say goodbye.
The doctor explained his condition and did not hold
any hope of him waking up.
Dad amazed us all at around 5pm that afternoon when
he opened his eyes and asked if he could go home now!
Since waking he has spoken about the 2 officers often
and canȇt praise them enough, he said Ȉ I owe my life to
them, Iȇve never had 2 as good as them come to me beforeȈ.
Employer Recognition
Employers support our communities by allowing their
employees in emergency services to leave work
when necessary.
The VAOAT would like to hear from VAOs whose
employers allow them time off work to respond
to emergencies.
Send us the name & website address of your employer
and we’’ll put it on our website.
http://www.tasmanianambulancevolunteers.asn.au/recognition.php
Itȇs only a token, but an important one!
4 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
Just as Dad, we his children canȇt thank Marcus Dixon
and Maciej Samborski enough for their expert care and
compassion when looking after our dad.
We know dad is still very ill and still may not make it
but because of their care we have had an extra few days
with our Dad and for that we will be forever grateful.
We thank you both from the bottom of our hearts.
Without the ambulance officers many lives would be
lost.
They are the heroȇs of many.
Kind Regards,
It is with regret and disappointment that on the 10th
April the VAOAT Committee decided to cancel the King
Island Gathering, due to take place 20-25th May 2010.
As youȇre all aware we are an unfunded volunteer
organisation relying on subscriptions, sponsorship,
donations and intermittent governmental support to run
these events. When we decided to set the date and go
ahead with planning there were several likely prospects to
support the Gathering financially.
However, during the past year donations have dried up
due to the financial crisis hitting corporate organizations,
and two major funding bodies, who have previously
supported us, changed their programs or eligibility rules.
So, faced with the dilemma of finding $50,000 quickly we
approached the Bartlett government in early March, and
received a written promise of funding if they were the
government after the election.
The Ȉhung parliamentȈ result was the worst possible
outcome for us, and, three weeks after the election we
still have no Ministers sworn in. The Committee was faced
with the prospect of spending $30,000+ of VAOAT funds ––
most of it required to be reserved for other purposes –– on
non-refundable airfares, without the guarantee of
reimbursement. We were left with no option but to cancel
the event.
The King Island VAOȇs have worked steadily for 18
months to overcome the logistics of transporting 50+ VAOs
from the Tasmanian mainland, procuring accommodation,
speakers and meals and planning many surprises…………so
we know it can be done.
The failure was in funding and to address this the
VAOAT Committee will be requesting and lobbying both
Ambulance Tasmania (AT) and DHHS for annual funding
so we have guaranteed funds for these events.
As a committee and as King Islander VAOs we share
your disappointment at the late stage cancellation
BUT one day a Remote Area Island Gathering will go
ahead……. In the meantime, organisation is well underway
for a Gathering at Coles Bay in November. Watch this
space
FORUMS FOR YOU
The VAOAT Committee has been utilizing online Forums for many months and we find it an excellent way of
keeping in touch, clarifying issues and developing strategies to effect or deal with change.
VAOȇs are dispersed throughout the far corners of the
state, and opportunities for face to face dialogue between
members and the Committee is limited. The enthusiastic
attendances at Gatherings have highlighted the value volunteers place on meeting with and hearing from other vollies. As a Committee we wanted to provide opportunities
to continue these discussions, and given that we have a
high-quality interactive website, supported by active administrators, we are in a position to offer these opportunities.
We are in the process of setting up two online Forums,
accessible via the
www.tasmanianambulancevolunteers.asn.au website.
1) VAOAT Members Forum
This will be available to all current VAOAT members. You can give feedback to the Committee on issues
we are currently working on, as well as raising topics
that are important to you. A regular digest summarising the topics discussed and actions will be reported by
a delegated member of committee.
2) Coordinators Forum
This is for all unit coordinators whether or not they
are members of the VAOAT, and will bring coordinators into regular contact with other coordinators,
VAOAT Committee, and other relevant Ambulance
Tasmania staff to identify, discuss and progress your
issues and needs.
Each forum will be specific to the two groups, and
password protected.
We are working to have them up and running soon, so
Ȉwatch this space……Ȉ
Pam Fanning
President - VAOAT
Till next time from the Bass Strait isle.…….
kind regards,
Pam Fanning
President - VAOAT
It's never too late to have a happy
childhood. But the second one is
up to you and no one else.
While visiting a friend in the hospital a young man
noticed several pretty nurses, each one of them was wearing a pin designed to look like an apple.
““What does the pin signify?”” he asked one of them.
““Oh! Nothing,”” she said with a chuckle. ““We just use it
to keep the doctors away.””
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 - 5
Modified Songs of the Sixties
…… some of the artists of the 60s are revising their
hits with new lyrics to accommodate
aging baby boomers.
/Bobby Darin --Splish, Splash, I Was Havinȇ a Flash
/Hermanȇs Hermits --Mrs. Brown, Youȇve Got a Lovely Walker
/Ringo Starr --I Get By With a Little Help From Depends
/The Bee Gees -- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip
/Roberta Flack--The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face
/Johnny Nash --I Canȇt See Clearly Now
/Paul Simon--Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
/The Commodores --Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom
/Marvin Gaye --Heard It Through the Grape Nuts
/Procol Harem
A Whiter Shade of Hair
/Leo Sayer --You Make Me Feel Like Napping
/The Temptations --Papaȇs Got a Kidney Stone
/Abba--Denture Queen
/Tony Orlando --Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall
/Helen Reddy --I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore
/Leslie Gore--Itȇs My Procedure, and Iȇll Cry If I Want To
/Willie Nelson --On the Commode Again
THE VIRGIN IN MOTHER NATURE
Genetic engineering and molecular biology have
advanced amazingly over the past few decades - think of
Dolly the cloned sheep. And thereȇs a widespread belief
that Mother Nature is basically conservative, and scientists
are doing things she never would. But consider this: virgin
birth actually happens in living animals, not just in the
Bible.
The technical name for this is parthenogenesis (no, not
giving birth to a large Greek building), whereby a female
gives birth without her eggs coming into contact with
sperm. It happens in many species: starfish, worms, sea
urchins, honeybees, whiptail lizards, some rattlesnakes.
Animal cells have chromosomes which are made from
DNA and represent the creatureȇs genetic blueprint. So itȇs
written in your chromosomes whether youȇll have red or
black hair, whether youȇll be short or tall and so on. Sexual
reproduction is usually about mixing and matching of
chromosomes.
Usually, animals have two complete sets of
chromosomes in all their cells, except for the sex ones. The
sex cells (eggs in females and sperm in males) each have
just one set. So when the egg combines with the sperm,
you end up with a cell that has two sets of chromosomes the full genetic blueprint. The eggs of virgin-birth animals,
however, already have two sets of chromosomes.
Itȇs hard to prove that youȇve actually got virgin birth
happening - that is, reproduction without any sperm
involvement at all. Some female lizards can store male
sperm inside their bodies for years after mating, and only
then give birth to baby lizards. The only way to prove
virgin birth is to start off with females that are isolated
from males, wait for them to give birth to a second
generation of females, again without any males at all, and
then continue this process down the generations. At all
times the females must have absolutely no contact with
males.
Charles J. Cole and Carol R. Townsend of the American
Museum of Natural History did this very experiment with
the whiptail lizard. They were able to raise these lizards to
the seventh generation, with hundreds of offspring and not
a single male born. (If you had exactly the same
chromosomes as your mother, youȇd be female, too.)
The big advantage of virgin birth is that all of the next
generation are females, and can all give birth, with a
resulting very rapid rise in population, if needed, to fill any
particular ecological need. The big disadvantage is that the
offspring are all the same as the first generation. They are
not very good at surviving - for instance - climate change.
With male-female procreation, you swap around the
chromosomes, so the next generation is just a little bit
different. If the weather is hotter, some of these offspring
will be better able to survive the heat and will be able to
pass on that characteristic to their children.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
THE AGE - GOOD WEEKEND, October 1, 2005
6 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
Avoca Volunteer Ambulance Unit - ‘‘The Angels’’
invite you to celebrate the launch of our book
It’’s Not all Lights & Sirens
A Brief History of Ambulance Services in the
Avoca / Royal George & Rossarden / Storys Creek Area
To be launched by Michael Polley MHA
at Avoca Memorial Hall
on Saturday 22nd May 2010
starting at 2.00pm
Afternoon Tea will be served + Raffle of a mixed hamper of goodies.
RSVP: 15/5/10, to Marg Dennis
phone 6385 2147 or email mldennis@skymesh.com.au
It just all depends on how you look at some things
Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher in
southern California, was doing some personal work on her
own family tree. She discovered that Congressman Harry
Reid’’s great - great uncle, Remus Reid, was hanged for
horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. Both
Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.
The only known photograph of Remus shows him
standing on the gallows in Montana territory.
Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six
times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and
hanged in l889.’’
So Judy recently e-mailed Congressman Harry Reid for information about
their great-great uncle.
Harry Reid
Believe it or not, Harry Reid’’s staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:
““Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana
Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition
of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with
the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking
leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he
was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus
passed away during an important civic function held in his
honor when the platform upon which he was standing
collapsed.
[original source unknown]
On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her
research is this inscription:
‘‘Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial
Setting up a Local History Room or Heritage Centre,
Dr Dianne Snowden
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 - 7
MCI Exercise at Gumleaves - my point of view
The scene: 2 coaches full of people and a car have had
an MVA. The coaches sandwiching the car in the driveway
of Gumleaves.
25 patients ranging from the uninjured to critical.
Injuries included amputations, chest pain, impaled objects
to minor injuries and confusion. Time to complete initial
triage was 30 minutes, this would have been achieved
faster except that George Hudson (confused patient) decided
to go for a wander and place a bet on the horses.
Each patient was given a card to indicate progression of
their condition dependent on whether they were treated
appropriately or not. Each patient was transported to a
central area where George Degrassi (VAO Dodges Ferry)
accepted each patient with a handover, the crew was not
allowed to return to the exercise until a good,
comprehensive handover had been given. George also coordinated radio traffic on site.
As a result 19 patients were treated appropriately, and
6 died ( 2 were planned).
A planned time allocation of 5 hours was given,
however the total time for the exercise was 3.5 hours which
is a credit to all involved.
It was encouraging to note that Patient Care Guidelines
were being practised. A number of patients, who had been
briefed earlier, required more than maximum doses of
drug administration as well as presenting with contraindications. Reports from these patients suggest that they
did not experience any breach of guidelines.
6 crews were allocated for the exercise and even though
plenty of warning was given and everyone knew the
exercise was taking place, when the first crew arrived on
scene the ““Oh S**T”” factor was obvious on the faces of the
initial crew.
Each crew dispatched has progressively higher
training, until Peter Mulholland (VAOCI and ICP) and
Paul Templar (Superintendent) arrived on scene and
assumed scene command.
Some unforeseen situations occurred requiring
improvised actions. Whilst we were told that we would
have the complex to ourselves, we did not take into
account some of the general public ““looking the place
over”” and as we had the only entrance to Gumleaves
blocked some quick thinking was necessary to allow traffic
8 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
to pass (much to the amusement of the occupants who
asked if they could join in).
A television reporter complete with camera, in the form
of Sonya (VAO St Helens) was briefed to make herself a
nuisance in the latter part of the exercise. She was so
successful that she also told to go away (I paraphrase)
quite a few times by a number of exasperated VAOs she
tried to interview in the midst of the exercise. Sonya was so
convincing that one of the younger TFS members thought
she really was a reporter covering the exercise.
All patients and crew members were assigned an
Observer whose job was to make comment on the
appropriateness of treatment and handling. Generally all
went well.
Some comments included:
x the need for observers’’ vests, (this will be included in
any future exercise.)
x the lack of equipment. (this may be the situation in
any MCI where the number of patients outstrips
equipment available. As Clint Eastwood said
““Improvise, Adapt and Overcome””.)
x the need for good communications not only with the
radio room but also on scene between crews and
other services.
x the need to be able to identify VAOs
From the exercise a number of points to ponder:
x the necessity for one person to assume responsibility
and make themselves obvious until someone more
qualified arrives on scene.
x the need for repeat triaging while patients remain
outside the sorting area
x the necessity to establish an appropriate ““sorting””
area.
x the requirements of negative triaging.
x the use of 4 wheel drive vehicles as standard response
for MCIs
x VAO Level identification.
x most importantly, the need to establish, early, a
smooth flow through process for patients from
incident to transport.
x MCI training for First Response Units.
It was a credit to all, that when requested, during the
(Continued on page 9)
(Continued from page 8)
initial briefing, to play it for real crews and patients did so,
making it an invaluable exercise.
May I express my thanks to all, this would not have
been a success if it was not treated as real by all involved.
This was my first attempt organising an exercise on this
scale and it does not happen without a lot of assistance.
Thanks are due to Wayne Doran, Lesley Blackburn, Keitha
Munro, Tracey Fletcher and George Hudson for their
organisational skills and efforts; Mel and Damien for their
outstanding make-up work; Swansea TFS and SES for their
involvement; Peter Mulholland (VAOCI North) and Paul
Templar (Superintendent North). Thanks also to David
Godfrey-Smith for his input. David is developing an
application for i-phones allowing real time updates for
MCIs. Even though I was not on scene, initially, I was kept
up to date via this application. Thanks also to Southern
Operations for the use of vehicles and consumables in this
exercise.
I am still trying to compile photos and video of the
exercise, if anyone has any and could forward me copies I
would be grateful.
Steve Moore
A/VAOCI
6230 8511
vaoci.south@dhhs.tas.gov.au
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 - 9
Bream Creek Show –– a day for volunteers
Recruitment drive, country style
The popular Bream Creek Show was held on Saturday
20th March with volunteers from all walks of life playing a
huge role in the organizing and presentation of the show.
Three of our Dunalley VAOs were involved with the
running of the show so Sorell VAOs were asked to
provide the ambulance and first aid services for the day.
Christine Dean from Oatlands VAO unit was with the
Billy Tea and Damper stall, when I first spoke to her she
was up to her elbows in dough. It is always a popular
food venue with Alex, her husband keeping the camp fire
burning for the billy while he splits fence posts the old
fashioned way.
Steve Moore (Southern Volunteer Educator) and Rena
Venetsanakos (Operational Support Officer) were present
also as they were conducting a recruitment drive for the
Dunalley ambulance unit. They had 10 people who were
interested in joining as VAOs in 3 geographical areas.
Five Sorell VAOs attended on the day with a roster
system to enable us to provide coverage throughout the
day.
We set up alongside Steve and Rena and had the
ambulance open for the public to view and wander
through. We took a few blood pressures and answered
questions. Megacode Kelly was strapped to a stretcher
beside the ambulance with an Oregon Spinal Splint,
Oxygen mask, cervical Collar and cardiac monitor
attached. He looked impressive with all the gear attached,
we explained he was a training aid for VAOs.
We had a second ambulance fully equipped and
ready to go in case of an emergency so we wouldn’’t have
to disturb Megacode Kelly
Sorell VAOs - Leslie Blackburn, Craig Richardson
& Cheryl Wilson.
The bullock team was being led around the oval and
the owner saw a good opportunity for some fun or a good
photo opportunity and handed the team to me. The
bullocks were large and docile but became restless after a
while so we handed them back after taking some good
photos.
An enjoyable day was had by all and our services were
only needed for some minor mishaps.
Cheryl Wilson, Sorell Unit
Budget Cuts - all transport options considered by Ambulance Service
10 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
Joint Training Exercise at Lewisham
Our Emergency Services Water Exercise was conducted
at Lewisham Sand Dunes on Saturday 16th January, 2010.
It involved Volunteer Ambulance Officers from Dodges
Ferry, Sorell, and Bridgewater, Sea Rescue - Dodges Ferry,
and Sorell Police.
There were three Scenarios on the sand dunes and
patient injuries/conditions included a fractured leg, chest
pain & anaphalaxis.
VAOs were transferred to the sand dunes by Police and
Sea Rescue vessels. Sea Rescue retrieved a body from the
water and performed CPR on a manikin.
It was a most worthwhile exercise, enhancing our skills
and working relationship with other Emergency Services,
resulting in us being better prepared, should we be
required to deal with a similar situation in the future.
Our thanks to Dominic Morgan for his support and
encouragement on the day. Thanks also to Tony Chadwick
and Peter Morgan - your assistance on the day enabled a
safe and successful outcome of the exercise.
Colin George
Exercise Co-ordinator
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 - 11
Hash House Harriers - Red Dress Fun Run
The Hobart Full Moon Hash House Harriers
organised their annual Red Dress Fun Run on
Saturday, Feb 27. Lesley Blackburn - a VAO and
Hash House Harrier suggested that the runners
raise funds for the VAO Gathering on King
Island.
The runners dress in red and ladies clothing
and the group runs a set route. This year they ran
through Battery Point, Salamanca Place - the
market was in operation - and in to the Elizabeth
Mall and returned to the Civic Club for lunch and
a few beverages. Lesley, Keitha Munro and
Wayne participated in the run; only a short
distance, because we were the BBQ ‘‘cookers’’.
Thank you to Lesley for talking with the
Harriers and pushing our cause. Thank you to
Keitha who represented VAOAT and assisted
with the cooking.
A Hash House Harrier
seeking a donation
Keitha Munro & Lesley Blackburn
The final amount of donations was $3,417.95.
The Harriers were very pleased that reps from
the organisation they were donating to came
along and helped.
I suggested that for the next Red Dress Run
some VAOs will don the red attire and run. We’’ll
ask for vollies in Dec 2010.
Lesley and Keitha would agree the response
from the public was fantastic. Interesting how
many people were not aware of VAOs being an
integral part of Ambulance Tasmania.
Wayne Doran
Hash House Harriers on their Red Run at Parliament House - collecting donations for VAOAT
12 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
From Spinal Patient to Red Dress Runner
TEN years ago, as he lay in the back of an ambulance
with a severely broken neck, John Ellsmore thought he
would never walk again.
He was one of eight Hash House Harriers in a mini-bus
that had overturned and rolled several time on the
Midland Highway outside Oatlands. The ambulance,
crewed by two volunteer officers, had come from Bothwell
to attend to the injured and immediately recognised the
urgent need to get Mr Ellsmore to hospital. Their task was
made doubly difficult by road works on a stretch of the
highway –– any sudden jarring could have consigned their
injured passenger to life in a wheelchair.
Thanks in part to their efforts, Mr Ellsmore was able
not only to walk again but to resume running with the
Hash House Harriers.
So ‘‘Honkers’’, as he’’s known to other Hashers, was
delighted to learn that the beneficiaries of this year’’s
annual charity Red Dress Run organised by Hobart Full
Moon Hash House Harriers would be the Volunteer
Ambulance Officers Association of Tasmania.
Honkers was one of 80 Hashers from around the state
who squeezed into all manner of red finery to follow a
marked trail through Sandy Bay, Battery Point, Salamanca
and the central business district.
Run organiser Beverley ‘‘Wee Bev’’ Curry said the
response from Hashers and the public alike was fantastic.
““Hashers love this event and the cooler weather wasn’’t
going to discourage them from wearing some rather
skimpy outfits,”” she said. ““The public responded to the
spectacle by making some very generous donations.””
As a result, the Volunteer Ambulance Officers
Association will receive more than $3,400 for its work in
supporting the 520 volunteer ambulance officers around
the state. The handover of the cheque took place at Hobart
Ambulance Station at 1.00pm on Thursday 18th March
At the post-Red Dress Run celebrations, Honkers, in his
role as MC, spoke of the attention he received after the bus
accident in February 2000. It was only then that he
discovered that the Volunteer Ambulance Officer who
attended to him that day was the very man he was about to
introduce to the gathering, VAOAT past-president Wayne
Doran.
Hobart Full Moon Hash House Harriers
Media Release, 18th March 2010
Springwood High School, NSW, Year 10, 1980 ~ 30 Year Reunion
We are trying to contact former students who were or
would have been in Year 10, 1980 at Springwood High
School NSW. We understand that there are quite a few ex
students who joined the Armed Services and Police and
other emergency services after they attended school. Many
other students have moved interstate as well.
In November 2010 we will be having a reunion and we
would love to hear from you.
Additional Activities:
x Reminisce our old school days with a walk around the
school, Sunday, 7 November 2010 - 11am
x Picnic Get-Together at Buttenshaw Park, 7 November
2010 - 1PM (BYO Food/Drink)
We can be found on Facebook
(Springwood High School 1980 Year 10)
Date:
Time:
Venue:
Cost:
Includes:
RSVP:
Dress:
Saturday, 6 November 2010
6:00PM
Log Cabin Ballroom, Memorial Ave., Penrith
$65 each
Welcome Drinks, Finger food, DJ, Room Hire
10 September 2010 - with final payment
After 5
Deposit of $20 required by 1st June 2010
Contact:
Jan Bartlett (nee Battishill) 0427 040 964
Fiona Murray (nee McFarlane) 0407 141 121
Paula Bateson (nee Midcalf) 0458 007 229
Andrew Kirkwood 0417 110 228
Tony Stone - contact via email
Email address: 1980SHSReunion@gmail.com
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 - 13
Answers to KWIK KWIZ ~ LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND
If the patient is apnoeic, one should immediately open
his airway by backward tilt of the head, and if he does not
resume spontaneous breathing, start mouth-to-mouth
ventilation (answer d).
Manoeuvres designed to force water out of the lungs,
such as rolling the patient to the side (answer a) or
performing a Heimlich manoeuvre (answer e) are simply a
waste of time. To begin with, if the patient has been
submerged for only a short time (and we can assume that
this is the case, for there is no indication that he has
suffered cardiac arrest yet, only respiratory arrest), there is
unlikely to be any water in his lungs at all. In the first
moments of near drowning, reflex laryngospasm usually
occurs and effectively seals off the lower airway from
aspiration of water.
There is, however, likely to be water in the patient’’s
stomach——a lot of water——and the Heimlich manoeuvre
carries a significant risk of displacing that water into the
posterior oropharynx, from where it can be easily
aspirated. Secondly, even if there were water in the
patient’’s lungs, neither rolling him to the side nor a
Heimlich manoeuvre nor, for that matter, hanging him
upside down by his toes is likely to remove that water. All
these manoeuvres will simply waste precious minutes,
during which the patient could be receiving artificial
ventilation and a new lease on life.
The Holger Nielsen and Silvester methods of artificial
ventilation (answers b and c) went out with the rumble
seat. Studies carried out in the 1950s demonstrated that
these techniques could not move adequate volumes of air
in and out of the lungs, while excellent tidal volumes could
Answer to WHAT IS IT?
An Adenotome: used in otolaryngology, for the excision of
the adenoids.
be achieved through the use of mouth-to-mouth
ventilation. Furthermore, the Holger Nielsen and Silvester
techniques provide no means of maintaining the airway in
an open position during ventilation, while mouth-tomouth ventilation enables the rescuer to keep the victim’’s
head in a backward tilt position and thereby prevent
recurrent airway obstruction.
Every near-drowning victim should be evaluated in the
hospital, even when the victim seems to have recovered
completely at the scene (answer e). Delayed pulmonary
oedema is not uncommon in such patients, and for that
reason alone they deserve careful monitoring for at least 24
hours in the hospital.
The victim should NOT be left at the scene (answer c)
or instructed to go home and rest (answer d); he needs to
be in a medical setting where treatment will be
immediately available if late complications develop.
Running around the beach (answer a) will NOT Ȉget his
circulation going again.Ȉ To begin with, there is no
evidence that there was anything wrong with this patient’’s
circulation in the first place. And running will simply
exhaust him and add to whatever element of metabolic
acidosis remains from the near-drowning episode. He
should remain sitting quietly until the ambulance arrives.
It is NOT a good idea to give such a patient anything
by mouth (answer b), for the danger of vomiting remains,
even after resuscitation. Fluids, if needed at all, should be
provided by the intravenous route as soon as the
ambulance arrives with the necessary equipment.
Adapted from Ambulance Calls by N. L. Caroline
““Ritchie & Parker Alfred Green & Co are proud
to support the Volunteer Ambulance
Officers Association of Tasmania””
BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & TAX AGENT
Paul McShane
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Small Business Services
GST & Income Tax Advice
BAS Preparation
The Age, Saturday January 16, 2010
14 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
10 Cameron Street, P.O. Box 184
Launceston, Tas. 7250
Telephone: (03) 6331 5233
Facsimile: (03) 6331 1325
Email: rpag@vision.net.au
WORD SEARCH
How many words of 4 letters or more can you make
from the given letters?
In making a word, each letter may be used once only.
Each word must contain the centre letter & there must be
at least one 9-letter word in the list. No plurals or verb
forms ending in ““s””, no words with initial capitals and no
words with a hyphen or apostrophe are permitted.
Readers’’ Digest ~ Medical Trivia Quiz
1) Where in the body is the macula?
2) Would you find your philtrum under your nose,
tongue, or chin?
3) In what red-blooded body organ are the vitamins A, D,
E and K stored?
4) Urticaria is a skin disease otherwise known as what?
5) Is a verruca a physical condition, a type of wind or a
musical instrument?
6) What percentage of people can roll their tongue into a
tube?
a. 14%
b. 2%
c. 65%
d. 25%
7) What is the glabella?
a. The fatty tissue above the kneecap
b. The tiny hairs inside the ear canal
c. The bone immediately above the coccyx
d. The space between the eyebrows
8) The smallest waist measured on a living woman is:
a. 32cm
b. 35cm
c. 38cm
d. 42cm
9) What causes dimples?
a. A forceps birth
b. Genetics
c. Sex in the third trimester
d. In-vitro spasms
10) Which of these senses deteriorates first with age?
a. Smell
b. Sight
c. Hearing
d. Taste
Answers - The Back Page
REQUEST FOR A PAGER
Equipment request for a new pager, received from Pat
Taylor at Bicheno:
““Both pager and vollie submerged in salt water.
Vollie works, pager doesn’’t!!!
Could you please replace pager.””
- from Peter Morgan
The first word of a phrase is
permitted (eg inkjet in
inkjet printer).
Target - 16 words
Solution - The Back Page
I
F
T
H
I
Y
T
L
R
SHOPPING TRIP
A woman was in town on a shopping trip. She began
her day finding the most perfect shoes in the first shop and
a beautiful dress on sale in the second. In the third,
everything had just been reduced by 50 percent when her
mobile phone rang. It was a female doctor notifying her
that her husband had just been in a terrible car accident
and was in critical condition and in the ICU.
The woman told the doctor to inform her husband
where she was and that sheȇd be there as soon as possible.
As she hung up she realized she was leaving what was
shaping up to be her best day ever in the boutiques. She
decided to get in a couple of more shops before heading to
the hospital. She ended up shopping the rest of the
morning, finishing her trip with a cup of coffee and a
beautiful chocolate cake slice, compliments of the last shop.
She was jubilant. Then she remembered her husband.
Feeling guilty, she dashed to the hospital. She saw the
doctor in the corridor and asked about her husbandȇs
condition.
The lady doctor glared at her and shouted, ȇYou went
ahead and finished your shopping trip didnȇt you! I hope
youȇre proud of yourself! While you were out for the past
four hours enjoying yourself in town, your husband has
been languishing in the Intensive Care Unit! Itȇs just as well
you went ahead and finished, because it will more than
likely be the last shopping trip you ever take! For the rest
of his life he will require round-the-clock care. And he will
now be your career!ȇ
The woman was feeling so guilty she broke down and
sobbed. The lady doctor then chuckled and said, ȇIȇm just
pulling your leg. Heȇs dead. Show me what you bought.ȇ
A man comes into the ER and yells, ȈMy wifeȇs going to
have her baby in the cab!Ȉ I grabbed my stuff, rushed out
to the cab, lifted the ladyȇs dress, and began to take off her
underwear. Suddenly I noticed that there were several
cabs - and I was in the wrong one.
Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald, San Francisco
FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010 - 15
VAOAT Online - http://www.tasmanianambulancevolunteers.asn.au
SIGN IN A POLICE STATION: IT TAKES ABOUT 3,500 BOLTS TO PUT A CAR TOGETHER,
BUT ONLY ONE NUT TO SCATTER IT ALL OVER THE ROAD.
Who’’s Who?
President:
Pam Fanning
lyrad@ipstarmail.com.au
Ph: 6462 1404
V/President: Cheryl Wilson
wilson71@westnet.com.au
Ph: 6265 3703
Treasurer:
Marg Dennis
Ph/Fax: 6385 2147
mldennis@skymesh.com.au OR
treasurer@tasmanianambulancevolunteers.asn.au
Secretary:
Dianne Coon
Ph: 6471 7017
diannecoon@hotmail.com OR
info@tasmanianambulancevolunteers.asn.au
Committee:
Lesley Blackburn
satin.peewee@gmail.com
Ph: 0404 466 019
Wayne Doran
Ph: 6259 5697
wayne.doran@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Solution to MOSTLY MEDICAL
1) In the eye
2) Under your nose –– it is the vertical crease between your
nose and upper lip.
3) The liver
4) Hives
5) Physical condition (it’’s a wart)
6) c. 65%
7) d. The space between the eyebrows
8) c. 38cm
9) b. Genetics
10) a. Smell
Solution to WORD SEARCH
filth, filthy, firth, fitly, flirt, flirty, flit, frit, hilt, lift, rift,
thirty, thrift, THRIFTILY, thrifty, tilt, tilth, titi.
Collette Harrold
Ph: 6265 1111
collette.harrold@education.tas.gov.au
George Hudson
geo.hud@bigpond.com
Ph: 6375 1560
Keitha Munro
Ph: 0414 076 815
Keitha.Munro@justice.tas.gov.au
Closing Date for next
edition of
First Response
- 16th July 2010
(but please send a.s.a.p.)
David Godfrey-Smith
Ph: 0437 632 843
david.godfrey-smith@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Public Officer } Dianne Coon
Publicity Officer}
AREA REPS
Islands:
East:
South:
--{
--{
Central:
North:
North West:
West:
Pam Fanning
George Hudson
Cheryl Wilson
Collette Harrold
Toni King
Lorraine Gardiner
Jack Van Tatenhove
Dianne Coon
TAS COMMITTEE REPS
Fleet:
George Hudson
Equipment: George Hudson
Uniform:
George Hudson
OH & S:
Helen Reynolds
Ph: 6471 7017
ADVERTISING RATES
Commercial advertising accepted,
subject to available space; rates are:
Ph: 6462 1404
Ph: 6375 1560
Ph: 6265 3703
Ph: 6265 1111
Ph: 6288 3037
Ph: 6383 1371
Ph: 6428 6462
Ph: 6471 7017
Ph: 6375 1560
Ph: 6375 1560
Ph: 6375 1560
Ph: 6384 2101
Any concerns? - we’’re here to help!
Please try to resolve problems first,
via the correct chain of command in your region,
before approaching the Association.
16 - FIRST RESPONSE - MAY 2010
¼ Page (8.55x12.5 cm) - $5 per edition
½ Page (17.5x12.5 cm) - $10 per edition
Full Page (17.5x25.25 cm) - $15 per edition
No charge for VAOs & non-profit organisations.
VAOAT reserves the right to refuse or alter ads at our
discretion; we do not endorse any product advertised.
Opinions expressed in the newsletter are not
necessarily those of the editor.
Compiled by Margaret Dennis,
4 Nevin Street, Rossarden 7213.
Tel/Fax: (03) 6385 2147
Email: mldennis@skymesh.com.au
Printed at the office of Dick Adams MHR