SA Firefighter

I see, so this would be the same response if a confirmed fire was at the RAH?

And it was all very cool to see all that stuff out and in action, thanks for explaining it to me!

Hey guys,

Found a couple of good videos of RCR's on YT. The first one is essentially a training/documentary style video and shows a simulation extrication from the drivers point of view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLJZnUbRAw - UK

The second is news footage of an RCR in the US Car v Tree w/ two trapped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plNHqCf1FlQ - US

Thoughts?

Tom

I heard it was caused by Tassie only recently getting electricity...maybe they haven't quite learnt its dangers yet? 

Awesome photo Pip! Can you tell us the scenario here?

I have yet to see these PMS-SA vehicles around, although I suppose I will see them soon enough at the RAH.

I did know that a degree was needed to get into SAAS, I am starting uni this year with the hope of getting into the BHS(P) next year. I assumed the increase of private services meant less demand on SAAS and hence will mean less staff, but only in the PTS/ATS role.

Yes, they do roadside retrievals.

So how will all these other companies affect SAAS? Will it make it harder for people to be employed by SAAS?

We can safely assume you mean we should have a room like that at the RAH. But yes, I will have worked there one year on the 23rd of March and the number of alcohol related cases is truly eye opening. Sometimes it makes me second guess what dream of being a paramedic.

I worked a night shift last night (I'm in bed still wide awake from it) and we had a fair amount of alcohol related cases come through our doors, and it's a Tuesday night!!! We had 9 code blacks in ED and one man was attempting to destroy resus 1 and through a sharps container at a dr. He almost got into the rest of the hospital when security took him down only to have the cops throw him out when they returned. Yes, alcohol was involved (and I suspect some mental illness too).

I honestly think they need to "fine" people who come in due to alcohol/drug related problems. Sure some people might make that mistake once or twice or a teenager who is new to it all might drink too much, but if you come in after an x amount of times you need to pay for wasting our time and resources. And sure paramedics get paid shitloads to deal with it, but Orderlies and nurses don't! (although I am making quite a nice amount of money for my age)

I also don't feel that SAAS uses us as a dumping ground, they only have limited choices as to what they can do with pt's and while I may say something sarcastic like "you bring us all the good customers" I only mean it in jest. Some of the older Orderlies do get sick of seeing it though, just like some of you guys get sick of picking them up.

The cameras would eventually pay for themselves. They dont have to be mounted in all trucks, just metropolitan ones where I believe most of these issues would occur.

And yes, I saw the SPRINT flyers in the rego letters too.

Those pics are great! It is such a sight getting to see those helicopters come in and land on our helipad. One night we had two land on the deck one after the other. I had a chat to the pilot of the first helicopter while we were waiting for the second and he was ex Army and was in the 171st Aviation Squadron who are the Special Forces pilots. They fly the SAS and 4RAR around etc (equivalent to the US 160th SOAR "Night Stalkers").

I will get to go and spend a day down there one weekend, should be cool to see what goes on there.

It is pretty good to see that SAAS are taking a fairly modern approach to getting their messages and info out there, however I feel that people have trouble giving way to normal sized Ambulances let alone these new ones. Too many times have I seen idiots just race in front of an Ambulance entering an intersection. I think that there needs to be more hard hitting advertising to bring peoples attention around. Perhaps SAPOL can allow Ambulances to be fitted with cameras which Paramedics can use to report people who blatantly don't give way?