65
I S S UE
S I X TY
FIVE
FEB 2016
P R N - MA K E R E A D Y MO DE L
LI G H T N I N G S T R I K E C A S E STUDY
Y O U R S T O RY - J A S O N S TONE
H I S T O RY O F T H E I C P B A DGE
SIRENS 1
in my view
Photo of one of our newly marked up vehicles taken by Paramedic
David Morris at the Central Coast.
2 NSW AMBULANCE
SIRE NS 3
Special Operations Team deployment
Our new ASM recipients
Special Operations
Team deployment
Two NSW Ambulance paramedics have been recognised in the Australia
Day 2016 Honours List, awarded the prestigious Ambulance Service
Medal (ASM). Introduced into the Australian honours system in 1999,
the ASM recognises the distinguished service of recipients in Australia’s
ambulance organisations.
Congratulations to Darryn Binks and Paul Tonge who have been honoured
for their achievements and commitment to NSW Ambulance.
Since 2007, our Special Operations Team has been working with our state emergency
service colleagues to assist with various emergency relief situations across the country.
So far this year, our team has already
been very busy. At the beginning of
January, five paramedics from Special
Operations were sent to Western
Australia to support the NSW Rural Fire
Service (NSWRFS) who were assisting
and relieving local crews battling
bushfires. Later on in the month,
another group of paramedics were
deployed to Tasmania, again to support
our emergency service colleagues
protecting treasured bushland.
The role of our paramedics is to
provide health and welfare support for
the NSWRFS so their team members
are fit enough to be in the field. Our
paramedics were treating minor blisters
and other heat related issues.
Western Australia
On 7 January 2016, the town
of Yarloop in the south of Perth
became engulfed in bushfires
caused by a lightning strike. Two
people tragically died and more
than 160 homes and structures
were destroyed.
4 NSW AMBULANCE
Tasmania
On 13 January 2016, fires began in Tasmania’s
north-west and then spread to other areas of
the state. Although no homes have been
threatened, the fires have destroyed
large parts of the bushland located
in a World Heritage Area. The
NSWRFS and National
Parks were deployed to
reduce the impact
of the blaze.
Darryn Binks
Paul Tonge
Darryn provided 34 years of dedicated service to
NSW Ambulance and was one of the first female
paramedics. She was also a specialist paramedic,
completing Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP)
and helicopter paramedic training, flying many
successful primary missions in the Newcastle area.
Paul Tonge, who is currently based at State
Headquarters has a distinguished 31-year career
with NSW Ambulance, during which he has
continuously demonstrated outstanding service.
He has been appointed to numerous pivotal
roles, including Zone Manager, Executive Staff
Officer to the General Manager Operations and
Chief Executive, and more recently Manager of
Sustainable Access and Patient Flow. He has
completed ICP and Special Casualty Access Team
(SCAT) specialist courses.
Throughout her career, Darryn has led teams
through a variety of roles and for the past eight
years has managed the development and
implementation of policies in the Clinical Services
Directorate to ensure patients receive the best
possible care. One of her first projects was the
implementation of the Major Trauma Program
- a holistic approach to how NSW Ambulance
manages major trauma patients in NSW.
During this time she also devised the Trauma Triage
Tool which is now included in NSW Health policy as
part of their model of care, and completely revised
and enhanced the way NSW Ambulance deals with
trauma to improve patient outcomes.
He has excelled in many areas of NSW Ambulance
operations, being an early pioneer of the health
relationship manager role. This involved him working
closely with other health districts to streamline
ambulance transported patient processing and
being based in hospital Emergency Departments.
Paul developed peak demand strategies and
action plans, providing support and guidance to
paramedics and managers. These have assisted
NSW Ambulance to proactively manage demand in
a coordinated fashion
SIRE NS 5
NSW Ambulance honoured in
Australia Day Spectacular
It’s a day where we celebrate what it means to be Australian, and with a 120 year history NSW
Ambulance is certainly part of the countries fabric. This year NSW Ambulance took centre stage
during Australia Day celebrations at Darling Harbour as we were honoured for our service to the
community by the NSW Government.
Tens of thousands of revellers at
the NSW Australia Day Spectacular
were treated to a floating showcase
as a barge carrying a vintage 1938
ambulance was paraded around the
harbour with six staff aboard, each
representing different areas of modern
NSW Ambulance.
A/Chief Executive David Dutton joined
the official party on the main stage,
speaking with the event host about
the high quality emergency medical
assistance we provide our patients.
“We are incredibly proud of each and
every one of the employees of NSW
Ambulance,” David Dutton
told the crowd.
“It’s Team NSW Ambulance that
supports our patients.”
The tribute to NSW Ambulance also
featured an interview with Motorcycle
Paramedic Colin Straney, as well as a
video that beamed to the crowd from
big screens, detailing our proud history
and exciting future.
Transported to the event from its permanent location at Temora Rural Museum, the vintage ambulance is
a 1938 DA Dodge which spent its service years at Kyogle in northern NSW from 1938-1964.
6 NSW AMBULANCE
SIRE NS 7
What do you enjoy
most about working in
your area?
We are also exposed to other
interesting work from beach, lake and
bush jobs. We enjoy the lake views
during the shift and there’s a great little
coffee shop nearby.
What are some of
the station’s most
memorable jobs?
A local was injured when they fell
through the ceiling of a building. The
patient was inspecting a rental property
and they entered one of the rooms
only to find there was no floor (or light
switch), so crashed through the plaster
ceiling and landed on the ground
below! Luckily they only had an ankle
injury. The hole in the ceiling reminded
us of the cartoon holes that are visible
after a character crashes through
a wall. Although there have been
numerous jobs with major trauma and
drama, this one brought a real smile to
our faces, as well as the patient’s.
On Station with
Cardiff
The tourist
brochure says:
A suburb of Lake Macquarie, bordering
Warners Bay, Cardiff boasts cafes,
restaurants, bike tracks, boating
activities and walking tracks.
The staff at cardiff say:
How many staff?
We have 12 permanent staff, but 23
intensive care paramedics are attached
to Hamilton who rotate through Cardiff
every shift, making one ICP unit and
two P1 paramedic units.
What geographical
challenges do you face?
We have the biggest salt water lake
in the Southern Hemisphere next to
us. This creates a barrier which we
obviously have to drive around when we
need to attend jobs on the other side.
We call ourselves family and enjoy
working with each other. We always
keep in contact and make sure the crew
have each other’s support. We have a
few social gatherings throughout the
year, including a Christmas party and
medal presentations. There are more
hugs than arguments on station!
Most common jobs?
Falls, chest pain and mental health
are the big three. Cardiff is placed in
the centre of the suburban surrounds,
however as the Newcastle area grows,
we are often called to back-up nearby
stations. We are near a cross section of
retirees, low-socio economic housing
and sporting areas, so it’s the type of
work that tends to go with the territory.
Falls and injuries, however, not all are
confined to the elderly, with football
games, water skiing, skate boarding and
pushbike riding also common call-outs.
8 NSW AMBULANCE
SIRE NS 9
your story
hour marathon in 2011 and numerous
IRONMAN triathlons. I also rode my
bicycle from Sydney to Queensland
with a group of mates in 2010 to raise
money for cancer. It took 10 days and
we raised about $1.8 million.
Jason
Stone
My thought on family is live every day
with them like it’s your last. A week
before Christmas my daughter was
involved in a quad bike accident that
nearly took her life. I personally know
all those who attended her accident,
from the crew on the aircraft to the road
crews and supervisors. It was absolutely
humbling to experience first-hand their
empathy and professionalism. I am
forever in debt to them all.
“People will always
judge, however don’t
admire people for their
successes; admire
them for their ability to
overcome failure.”
Zone Manager,
Northern Sydney Zone
Off the back of his role as Deputy Commander of the 2016 Sydney New Year’s Eve operations,
Jason Stone is looking forward to another year at the helm of the geographically unique Northern
Sydney Zone. The hard work doesn’t stop there, though, for this busy Zone Manager – Jason
spends his downtime competing in marathons. One finishing time was less than three hours; a
feat only achieved by about two per cent of marathon finishers.
I’ve been working at NSW Ambulance
for just over 16 years, having joined in
1999 as a probationer at Blacktown.
When I left high school I joined the
Royal Australian Air Force and spent
about four years being posted all over
Australia. It was an amazing start to a
career, however the postings became
more frequent which created too much
instability for me at the time. I was due
to extend my contract with the Air Force
when a colleague made me aware that
NSW Ambulance was recruiting and
here I am today.
I am currently working within the
Central Coast and Northern Sydney
Sector and have been in Northern
Sydney Zone for almost two years.
What makes the sector so unique is
the geography. The Northern Sydney
Zone has national parks, beaches
and suburban environments. Each
day can go from a protracted bush
clinical access incident to a water
10 N S W A M B U L A N C E
rescue environment. This certainly isn’t
only unique to our sector, however it
undoubtedly provides an environment
that keeps you on your toes.
I’ve been extremely fortunate with
promotion within my career. I’ve had
the opportunity to complete Intensive
Care Paramedic (ICP) and Special
Casualty Access Team (SCAT) courses.
Clinically, my highlight would be
receiving a Commendation for Courage
for a protracted incident recently.
Managerially, however, my highlight
is more holistic and would definitely
be having so many mentors within
the organisation who have unselfishly
provided me with guidance and support
throughout my career.
I find the human resource
management of my role most
challenging. Sometimes it’s extremely
difficult to keep everyone happy with
decisions that need to be made,
especially when there are so many
stakeholders that could be affected by
a decision. I overcome this challenge
through clear communication and
collaboration with decision making
when appropriate. People are more
accepting of decisions and change
when they have had the opportunity
to provide input and discuss reasons
behind a particular decision.
Sometimes it seems like I’m always
at work, however when I do get the
opportunity to be by myself I love to
run. Having running gear in my car at
all times and looking for opportunities
for a run at all costs has probably put
it in the addiction category for me. The
ability to unwind after a challenging day
is something I’m not proficient at yet,
but running certainly does help me clear
my head.
Running has taught me to be patient
and persistent which is exactly what
I need in my role. My love of running
has seen me complete a sub three
SIRE NS 11
The history behind the
intensive care paramedic
badge
Most NSW Ambulance staff
see it daily on the front of
the new paramedic uniform.
But did you know that the
development of the NSW
Ambulance paramedic
badge and the role of the
paramedics who came to
wear it involved an Australian
security company, a bestselling author and a US
drama television series?
The Maltese Cross
Incorporated in our logo since the creation of
the NSW Ambulance Transport Board in 1919,
the Maltese Cross was a natural inclusion on
the paramedic badge. But did you know that the
symbol itself dates back to the ninth century? The
eight-pointed cross originated on the black robes
worn by the religious order, the Knights of Malta,
who built a hospital in Jerusalem to care for ill
pilgrims. The cross then earned its name in the
sixteenth century as the knights continued to build
hospitals throughout the Mediterranean and were
given sovereign power of Malta. Since then, it has
been used by welfare and service organisations
throughout the world due to its association with
humanitarian deeds.
Symbolism
The four arms traditionally represent, faith,
temperance, justice and fortitude,
The six branches of the star are symbols
of the six main tasks executed by rescuers
throughout the emergency chain, which
are early detection, on scene care, early
reporting, care in transit, early response,
transfer to definitive care
The eight points traditionally represent the
Chivalric values of observation, sympathy, tact,
perseverance, resource, explicitness, dexterity and
discrimination.
ca
re
de
tact
re
ca
dexterity
e
en
sc
fin
it
on
Faith
Temperance
ing
Fortitude
explicitness
ort
ea
rly
rep
e
ns
Justice
po
perseverance
res
discrimination
resource
12 N S W A M B U L A N C E
early detection
sympathy
ive
observation
rly
Known today as the Intensive Care
Paramedic course, the first seven
rounds of the ALS course were held
at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital,
before being moved to Royal North
After the first three years of the ALS
training course, the advanced life
support officers got together in the
classroom at St Vincent’s Hospital to
discuss a form of identification. Ideas
were drawn up on the chalkboard, and
within two years the badge and use of
the term “paramedic” were approved
for use.
Symbolism
ea
Another driving force behind upskilling
ambulance officers was Val McMahon, a
NSW Ambulance Deputy Superintendent
and registered nurse who believed a
patient’s chance of survival would be
greatly improved if select skills performed
in hospitals were also employed at the
first point of care.
A fact-finding mission to France, Germany
and the United States by Dr Wright
allowed him to see the benefits of out
of hospital advanced life support in
practice, but also areas which could
be improved when creating a model for
NSW Ambulance. Together with fellow
committee member Professor O’Rourke
and colleagues Professor John Overton
and Dr Henry Kilham, the NSW
Ambulance ALS training course was
developed. A set of protocols were also
established for the course graduates
to use on road; with these not only
forming the basis of the organisation’s
operations today but also being
replicated throughout the world.
Shore Hospital in 1980 and then to
State Headquarters in Rozelle in
1992. The participating ambulance
officers were subject to a two-week
induction and six-week theory course,
followed by a six-week clinical stint in
a major hospital. Upon completion of
the course, the officers became the
organisation’s - and the country’s - first
ever paramedics; however they still
weren’t referred to as such. Instead,
they were called “advanced life support
officers” and were attached to an
Intensive Care Unit.
The Star of Life is an internationally
recognised symbol of emergency medical
services. Originating in the United States,
the centre of the star features the Rod
of Asclepius; the ancient Greek symbol
of healing named after the Greek God
Asclepius who was a practitioner of
medicine.
r to
t all started 40 years ago on
ICP course is born
The Star of Life
ns
fe
Even the theory component of the ALS course was practically orientated,
preparing our first paramedics for their work on road.
2 August 1976 with the commencement
of NSW Ambulance’s first Advanced
Life Support (ALS) training course. This
followed the creation of an Intensive Care
Committee the year before which set in
motion the idea of advance life support
officers. Dr Bob Wright and Professor
Michael O’Rourke were original members
of the committee and long supporters of
advanced out of hospital care performed
by “ambulance officers” as paramedics
were known then; all while their
colleagues in the medical field voiced
criticism and scepticism of such an idea.
BadgE
tra
I
The Deconstructed
care in transit
SIRE NS 13
the history behind the intensie care paramedic badge
timeline
The shape
They had the individual elements they wanted on the metal badge, but now our advanced life support officers had to come up
with the layout and shape it would take. When former SCAT Paramedic Paul Featherstone, a graduate of the 1976 ALS course,
went to the badge maker to have a sample made up, he saw a Wormald Security badge on display and liked the shape.
Together with the badge maker, a layout was designed based on the shape of the Wormald Security badge. Unbeknown to the
Australian-run security company, they had just helped create a part of NSW Ambulance’s history!
1976
The first Advanced Life Support (ALS)
training course is conducted at St
Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst.
And the best-selling author?
A fabric version of the metal Wormald
Security badge that guided the shape of our
first paramedic badge.
The rise of the paramedic
The 1970s saw the profile of
paramedics increase, due in part to
the popular US television drama series
Emergency! The show was partly based
on real-life events, including the signing
of state legislation in July 1970 by then
Governor Ronald Regan which allowed
for the creation of paramedic units.
First airing in 1972, each episode of the
series - which ran for five years - followed
Los Angeles-based “Squad 51” as they
responded to a variety of emergency
medical incidents, exposing viewers
to the exciting and innovative new
profession of paramedicine.
The series was just as popular with
our ALS course graduates and the
rest of Australia. Now equipped with
more advanced clinical skills, our
graduates felt their skillset more closely
aligned with the American paramedics
they were reading about and seeing
on television. The term “paramedic”
was also something the public could
understand and relate to due to the
television series. Consequently the
advanced life support officers included
the term “paramedic” when coming up
with a concept for the badge, marking a
new era for our organisation.
Believe it or not, the federal legislative
change of 1975 that enabled our first
advanced life support officers to be able to
cannulate patients was championed by the
late Australian author Bryce Courtenay.
Having a young son with haemophilia,
Bryce and his wife Benita were growing
increasingly frustrated at a medical system
that wouldn’t allow them to administer
transfusions to their son in their own home.
Instead, each time their son suffered a
haemorrhage it would involve a trip to
hospital and a wait for a speciality doctor
to administer the transfusion. They felt
that the delay in treatment was having
detrimental effects on their son’s health
and that the procedure was simple enough
to be done at home.
Approaches to their son’s treating
hospital to allow them to perform the
procedure were unsuccessful, and it
wasn’t until a work trip to the United
States that Bryce was made aware that
American haemophiliacs or their parents
were able to administer transfusions in
their own homes.
Until the legislation in Australia was
changed, however, hypodermic needles
could only be inserted into the
veins of a patient by a qualified
physician, so Bryce and his wife
continued their multiple trips to
hospital each week. A colleague who
ran the account for the Australian
Labor Party at the advertising
agency Bryce worked at became
aware of the situation and spoke
to the then Prime Minister Gough
Whitlam. Shortly after, legislation
was passed to enable out of hospital
transfusions and cannulations to
be performed by those other than
qualified physicians, just in time for
the commencement of the first ALS
course the following year.
1979
Advanced life support officers design a
concept for a metal badge.
1981
The metal badge and term “paramedic”
are approved for use, replacing the
term “advanced life support officers.”
The 40-year journey
As we mark the 40th anniversary of the
first ALS course this year, it’s interesting
to look back on the intriguing factors
that contributed to the identification
that was designed and worn by those
first graduates.
Now, as you look at the paramedic
badge you wear or you see on our
staff, be reminded of the history that
helped to shape paramedics as we
know them today.
2005
The metal badge worn by what are
now referred to as “intensive care
paramedics” is removed from the duty
uniform but still worn with the dress
uniform.
2015
Fabric badges modelled on the
original metal paramedic badge but
with different coloured stitching based
on clinical skill level are introduced
with the new duty uniform for trainee,
intern, qualified, advanced life support,
intensive care and extended care
paramedics.
14 N S W A M B U L A N C E
SIRE NS 15
media update
in the media
SOCIAL MEDIA Popular Posts
The arrival of unpredictable summer weather kept us busy and regularly in the news providing
advice and updates. Our paramedics were also the focus collecting prestigious awards for their
outstanding contributions to the community.
Following our increased popularity across social media over New Year’s Eve, we continued to boost
our followers by engaging in key events such as Australia Day, extreme weather and the first day
back at school.
Summer safety
Australia Day
Throughout January, wild weather and fluctuating temperatures struck NSW and ensured extensive coverage of NSW
Ambulance heat, wet weather and pool safety messages.
This year on Australia Day NSW Ambulance was honoured at the NSW Australia Day Spectacular at Darling Harbour. We
used this opportunity to post photos, messages and media releases across our social media channels.
Safety warning from paramedics as wet
weather strikes – Channel 7 News
Call for vigilance to avoid child
drownings – Channel 9 News
Paramedics honoured
At our annual graduation in 2015, Bradley Gee and Lynne Atkinson were jointly named
NSW Ambulance Employee of the Year, while Paul Tonge and Darryn Binks were named
on the Australia Day 2016 Honours List and awarded the prestigious Ambulance Service
Medal. Both events received extensive media coverage.
other posts
Videos
In the last 12 months, we have successfully been using
video to reach out to members of the public, encouraging
engagement through a different medium.
Most viewed post on
Instagram, Sydney Siege
Anniversary.
Our ambulance vandalised post
reached 599,235 people on
Facebook.
Summer advice from our
paramedics on bites and
stings in the water –
The Daily Telegraph
16 N S W A M B U L A N C E
Follow us!
SIRE NS 17
Letters of
Appreciation
e
r
e
w
a
i
g
r
o
e
G
d
n
a
a
ar
S
m
a
te
l
il
H
n
e
k
o
r
B
Two of your n tonight to an elderly neighbour who .
called to a locatio m chest pains and in a stressful state
was suffering f ro were professional and compassionate t,
Sara and Georgia re t he patient wasn't totally coheren
in a situation whe comfortable and embarrassed for
and extremely unuld be recognised and congratulated.
calling. They sho
I would like to pass on my
sincere thanks to Peter
Sopniewski and Paul
Beaver from Cooma.
The care that they showed
to me and my family was
way above and beyond
what I ever expected.
Peter put my 10-year-old
daughter at ease and told
her that they were going
to look after me and take
away all my pain - which
they did.
I had a heart attack which then prog
Hospital to a quad bypass at the Princeressed through Coffs
live in a rural village outside of Coffs of Wales Hospital. I
Triple Zero (000) I was attended by Harbour. On ringing
people live locally and can provide limAlison Palmer. These
are making their way from Coffs Harited but critical care whilst the full time paramedics
bour. Alison did exactly that and was a
my survival.
critical link in
Today is my first re-birthday! And I am only here to celebrate with my family because of an amazing team
of paramedics who continued to work on me and not give up. Not a day goes by where I don't think of the
ambos and thank them for the fact that I’m here today. I am on holidays at the moment watching my kids
having fun in the swimming pool and I thank your team for this privilege.
I am truly blessed to have had such an amazing, caring, determined and dedicated crew work on me.
You arrived to try and
help revive my dear
mum who had taken
her life. As soon as
you knew nothing more
could be done for her,
you took me by the
shoulders and looked me
straight in the eyes to
make sure I knew that it
wasn't my fault. You then
hugged me like a father
would. You walked my
brother and I away from
the scene and sat with
us for a while, chatting
with us and making sure
we were okay and again
telling us over and over
that it wasn't our fault.
Needless to say, this was
the worst day of my life.
I feared losing her in all
kinds of devastating ways
ever since I was a child.
I didn't know it would
happen like this. You were
a tremendous source of
warmth and comfort at a
time I needed it most and
I didn't even know you. It
meant a lot to me and it
still does.
I am writing to pass on my thanks and gratitude to
Air Ambulance flight nurse Nicole and pilot Frank.
My sister who had suffered a traumatic brain injury
was flown to Sydney where she received specialist
neurosurgical treatment. I am beyond impressed and
thankful for the professionalism and care provided
by both Nicole and Frank, who not only cared for
my sister, but also another patient at high risk of
sudden deterioration. Nicole, as a single flight nurse
with limited resources, performed exemplary, ensuring
patient safety and comfort for which I, as an RN,
am most grateful.
My 39-year-old partner went into cardiac arrest
while asleep in bed next to me. I was also 39
weeks pregnant. Within several minutes my angels
arrived. They shocked him seven times on our
bedroom floor and was whisked away in an
ambulance with three of them, while one stayed
with me at the house and packed up, saying,
”When everything settles down you don't want to
come home to this mess”. It was just the small
things! My partner had a previously undiagnosed
cardiac condition called Brugada Syndrome and
will be fitted with a defibrillator. Last night he was
walking, talking and able to tell me he loves me. If
it wasn't for five amazing people we wouldn't have
had the opportunity.
The things you see and do each day for your work, I want to
thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The Special Operations Team participate in 4-wheel drive
training at Cronulla.
Employee of the Year winners, Bradley Gee and Lynne
Atkinson enjoyed lunch at Café Sydney with Chief
Executive Dominic Morgan and Executive Director
Service Delivery David Dutton
Paramedics from Tamworth City Station join with
members of St John Ambulance and NSW Police at the
Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Our NSW Ambulance medical team access a patient
during a cliff rescue at Yamba on the north coast.
Paramedics from Marrickville Station snap a quick photo
in front of the famous Big Merino at Goulburn after a
transfer from St Vincents Hospital to Goulburn Hospital.