QAS INSIGHT | Summer 2017-18 edition

Briefs

Award-winnng QAS Research

A paper presented by CCP Lachlan Parker and co-authored by Dr Colin Page, Dr Steve Rashford, Dr Emma Bosley, Dr Kath Isorardi, Dr Fran Williamson and Dr Geoff Isbister has been awarded the Paramedics Australasia International Conference Best Paper Prize in Melbourne. The paper titled ‘A prospective before and after study of droperidol for pre-hospital Acute Behavioural Disturbance’ was a prospective observational study conducted in south-east Queensland as part of a quality assurance monitoring process to compare the safety and effectiveness of midazolam and droperidol for the management of acute behavioural disturbance (ABD). The study demonstrated that patients 16 years of age or older presenting with ABD and having a Sedation Assessment Tool score ≥+2, who were treated with droperidol (compared to midazolam) had a statistically significant:

 Reduction in adverse event rate  Reduction in time to sedation  Reduction in prehospital and hospital additional sedation requirements  Increased rate of successful sedation

“The paper presents compelling evidence that validates the introduction of droperidol for the management of ABD by QAS paramedics,’’ said Lachlan Parker. The full results will be released in the next edition of QAS INSIGHT.

3

QAS tops charity soccer match

An emergency services charity soccer match that kicked off on the Sunshine Coast in November raised more than $4,000 to help a QAS paramedic’s son who is battling leukaemia. QAS and QPS took to the field at Sunshine Coast Stadium to raise funds for six-year-old Albie Batty, who requires ongoing treatment. Albie is the son of Amie Kirkwood, a paramedic with more than 20 years’ service to the Sunshine Coast community. The funds will be used to help continue Albie’s life-saving treatment at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

The charity match was part of an Emergency Services Open Day hosted by QAS and QPS and supported by Sunshine Coast Council, QFES, SES and Surf Life Saving Queensland. The event included a sausage sizzle, meet and greet with the local Sunshine Coast Emergency Services, an emergency service vehicle display, CPR awareness and other interactive displays. And while the real goal of the day was to raise funds for Albie, it was also rewarding that the final score of the match was 6-5 in favour of QAS thanks to a charity-driven penalty shoot-out.

Summer 2017–18