QAS INSIGHT | Summer 2017-18 edition

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Selected highlights

Following the detailed summary of this year’s achievements and events which appeared in the Spring edition of INSIGHT, here is a selection of some of the highlights of 2017.

Baby born at Whitsunday Ambulance Station

New station announced for expanding community In October, the Government announced that a new $4 million ambulance station would be built at Yarrabilba to meet the demand of the growing community. QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles said the new station would support coverage in the Logan area and contribute to improving response times across the region. “We’re planning for Yarrabilba to be a 24-hour station, initially supporting a staff of 17,’’ Mr Bowles said.

QAS achieves Australian first with launch of dual-capability seats In October the first dual-capability seats for both adults and children aged one and up were rolled out

and are now in more than 100 ambulances across the state.

A beautiful story followed the devastation caused by Tropical

Cyclone Debbie with a baby girl born at around 4.20am on March 29 at the Whitsunday Ambulance Station. Baby Billianna was delivered by Mum Suzanne with the support of Dad Tim and assistance from Graduate Paramedic Pamela Price, ACP Peter Gleeson, CCP Anthony Fletcher, Doctor Melissa McCann and midwife Demelza Griffin.

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All new and replacement QAS ambulances are being fitted with the dual-capability seat. The seat is incorporated into the rear-facing chair often utilised by patient escorts and patient care officers in critical emergencies. It ensures that a child who needs to accompany a sick parent can now do so quickly and safely without the delay in waiting for another guardian or carer to arrive on scene. It also serves a purpose for young sitting patients. The seats were suggested by a paramedic who had seen similar seats utilised by other emergency medical services overseas.

“It will be designed and built using the latest techniques and staff operating out of it will have access to state of-the-art facilities including rest-study areas, patient care and equipment storage, amenities and a break out space. Importantly it will also allow for future expansion.”

QAS deployment for Rockhampton flood

In April, QAS set up a tactical medical centre at the Rockhampton evacuation centre staffed by paramedics deployed from areas across Queensland along with local staff.

With medical equipment, beds, and a casualty room housed in our tactical support caravan, the QAS was well prepared to provide medical assistance to the community during the flood event.

Summer 2017–18