As far as the Victorian Liberal opposition and ambulance promises go, this one is interesting.

In a media release dated 20 July 2010, the State opposition has stated that they will increase eastern metro (peripheral) ambulance cover by making the Belgrave, Emerald, and Yarra Junction branches all 24 hr branches.

Is this a good thing?

Could this funding and person power be better spent elsewhere?

Despite figures showing extended average wait times I would like to see the number of cases each of these crews attended – especially Belgrave.

I suspect Belgrave services more than just their  peripheral area and that the money could be spent on finding  Mooroolbark their own branch in a strategic position as well as finding Knox and Vermont South branches a less decrepit home.

Let us know what you think about the Liberal party promises and your own solutions as well as any other thoughts – what about the west?

Last Tuesday at a suburban petrol station a woman burned inside a car. Withstab wounds and near 100% burns she spoke to paramedics on scene.

She died later that night in hospital.

I spoke to paramedics who had heard the gruesome details first-hand from those on scene. Of how they felt that this was the worst scene a paramedic could attend. And of some paramedic’s relief that it hadn’t been them on scene.

I read in the local paper, the Knox Leader (June 8, 2010 – words by – Adrian Bernecich), about a hero grappling with the horror of the day. Dean Filmer showed all that is good about humanity by trying to help despite the carnage and danger. He’s also going to seek counselling after all that he’d witnessed.

I just hope the paramedic’s who attended this patient seek counselling themselves. No training or life experience could prepare a paramedic for what happened that day. Those that transported the woman to hospital would have had her cries and pleas in their ears for the long journey to one of the city trauma centres. They would have fought to keep her comfortable despite her skin peeling away at the slightest touch.

These people, the paramedics, will grapple with this horror for a long time to come and the community will probably never understand this battle.

To papers, like the Knox Leader, don’t forget that paramedics are people too. Nasty things take their toll.

I think they deserved a foot-note after this job.

Yes, it’s that time again.

Time to vote via telephonium on the “Proposed variation to Ambulance Victoria Enterprise Agreement 2009″.
This time it’d be nice to actually have some people voting – unlike the three people who did vote last time.
At Azureblues.com we’re not about to tell you which way to vote – suffice to say that voting is important.
Cheers and happy voting.

Rumour has it that a much loved ambo – out the east side of Melbourne – has handed back his MICA pips and picked up his “regular” ambo ones, for good.

While this is an obvious loss to the MICA community, it’s a great thing for the road crews in Melbourne.

With his experience and approachable demeanour, new students and experienced “roadies” will stand to benefit from his knowledge.

I know this from personal experience.

Good luck and best wishes.

Despite the number of “aids” that paramedics have to help them transfer patients from one place to another it sometimes comes down to moving someone quickly and damning the risks.

Or does it? Is it worth it?

Would the public eye us with contempt if we save ourselves before others?

I spoke to an ambo the other day and she said that her back was so sore that she was probably going to have to head home and take some time off. She said that they had to move a voluminous patient from beside a toilet. It was a difficult move for them because the patient had an obvious fracture to her leg. The stretching and lifting at the same time had caused her some lumbar back pain and a couple of hours later she was “feeling it”.

Injuries like these can seriously limit the lifespan of a paramedic.

What can we do?

We use the aids as best we can but sometimes we just can’t. I suppose that’s the price we pay for the privilege of doing what we do. Helping others.

What do you think? Do we have to risk ourselves sometimes? Is it a matter of further training? What other “devices” could we utilise? Should we use the “spoonful of concrete” approach to patients?

‘Tis the conundrum.

Be safe peoples.