Community
5 December, 2024
Helping hand for Port ambos
It was only recently, at the Port Douglas Volunteer Extravaganza, that I discovered the existence of the Port Douglas Local Ambulance Committee.
The Queensland Ambulance Service regard local committees, across the country, as an important part of their service in a number of ways.
Their work includes connecting with the local community, plus fundraising to help improve the ambulance service. This also includes education or research for operational staff, together with delivering community education programs such as the CPR Awareness Program.
New ambulance committees can be established in any community if there is a locally-based ambulance station and they are able to maintain a team of at least five volunteers.
The Port Douglas Local Ambulance Committee currently has 10 members from all walks of life and a range of ages. Their volunteer committee undertake community activities promoting and assisting Queensland Ambulance Service, one example being the recent Volunteer Extravaganza in Port Douglas.
Other events throughout the year include a two-day stall at the Mossman Show where they hand out educational leaflets on topics like snake bites, CPR and the Emergency Plus app. They also sell first aid kits and snake bite kits on a not-for-profit basis as the team believe simply, “getting our kits out there into the community is extremely important”.
The team also set up an IGA stall in Port Douglas a couple of times a year and at the end of each school last term the local committee teach CPR to years 5 and 6 at Port Douglas Primary School.
RESQ ROOS is a new initiative and the team have just completed their first training program at C&K Kindergarten, teaching children how to recognise the difference between a ‘little and a big’ emergency and how to ring 000. These programs are from kindy to year 6 and vary depending on the age of the children.
At the end, the children receive a certificate, a fridge magnet showing their name, address and phone number and a medallion for attending. The current RESQ ROOS equipment is funded by the Tin Shed.
The Port Douglas Local Ambulance Committee also have several fundraising tins in outlets in Port Douglas. These funds are used to buy items for their care bags, which are carried by paramedics in each ambulance. If a child is involved in an accident or incident, they give them a care bag to keep their mind off the situation at hand. The bag contains items such as a QAS colouring-in book, ruler, 000 water bottle, books and a hand-made teddy or similar.
The committee meets every two months at the local ambulance station in Port Douglas. Those keen to join must be over 18 and live or work in the Douglas Shire area. Details of local ambulance committees can be found on the main QAS website.
I’m off to find more hard-working local heroes, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
