CareFlight delivered specialist trauma training to first responders as part of its MediSim program.

Held at the SES headquarters at Mittagong on February 25, three RFS and 12 SES personnel took part.

The program was run by three facilitators including one intensive care paramedic, one specialist pre hospital nurse and one experienced ED nurse.

Participants were trained in immediate life saving techniques and knowledge to give them additional confidence treating patients should they be the first to arrive at the scene of an incident.

Content included patient assessment, severe haemorrhage control, burns management, how to deal with crush injury and release syndrome, managing an airway and triage of patients in a mass casualty situation.

MediSim program Manager Colin Brown said the first five or 10 minutes could mean the difference between life and death for the patient.

“This is where the MediSim program comes in. CareFlight sends experienced clinical educators to rural and remote areas, delivering world class trauma training to local first responders,” Mr Brown said.

“These emergency services do an incredible job for their community and they could be at the scene of an accident before professional medical help arrives. Quite often in rural and remote areas, first responders are on their own for a lengthy period of time so they need to be able to manage that situation appropriately.”

This was the first time the workshop had been held at Mittagong.  The participants were absolutely fantastic” said Mr Brown.

“We could tell they were already highly experienced in dealing with trauma, but they asked so many great questions of the educators.”

MediSim was launched in 2011 and more than 3,000 emergency service volunteers have since been trained.

“That means more than 3,000 first responders are in a better position to respond quickly and effectively to an emergency situation in their local community,” Mr Brown said.

Volunteers learn from highly experienced professional emergency specialists including doctors and intensive care paramedics.

Lifelike mannequins and a unique car crash rescue simulator aid in the recreation of a high pressure environment, to ensure the training is realistic.

The MediSim program was developed by CareFlight’s Dr Ken Harrison and has awards both nationally and internationally.