Dunco (NSW) replied:

Good article mate...but do you realise that when you type in capitals it means you are yelling....and I now need first aid on my ears :)

Gone Bush (WA) replied:

The CAPS LOCK button is on the left of your keyboard. If you push it this happens:

capslock.

samazing

Rock Ape replied:

It is a pity that the only responses you have received so far are negative, I for one didn't know they ran remote area first aid courses, so thank you for that.

As for for the yelling my ears are fine. Internet ettiquette what a load of B.S.

Member - Olcoolone (S.A) replied:

Totally agree 100%.

I’m a strong believer in being prepared for anything when travelling the outback.

To most people it seems they like to tell you what they have fitted to their vehicle and how far in the mud it has been stuck but you never hear people brag about their first aid training, their first aid kit, what personal safety gear they have and what communications they carry.

Things can go wrong and do without warning when travelling.

I suppose a mobile phone, a packet of bandaids and 1 litre of water is all you need isn't it?

I hope if anything happened to me and my wife whilst travelling I hope the next person to come along is as well prepared as we are.

Regards Richard

Member - Straps (SA) replied:

A First Aid kit is only as good as the people carrying and using it..


I completely agree with steeplejack and suggest that if people are spending time in or travelling through remote areas, that they go and do a remote area course. Its about turning first aid into extended care.

First aid is exactly what it says; "The first aid that someone receives" but there is an assumption that if more help is needed that they would get it (Ambulance / Health Care Professional / RFDS etc etc) in a reasonable time frame. In remote areas, Secondary care may be 4 - 8 hours away or longer depending on your circumstances etc, meaning that you have to assist / provide care for all this time.

First aid kits come in all shapes and sizes for all occasions. Making sure that you have enough of the right sort of gear and knowing what to do with it is essential for any travel.

Cheers
Shane

Member - Fred G (NSW) replied:

Good post steeplejack, and I totally agree with Richard and Shane.
Just in addition to their comments, something I only learnt during a visit to the RFDS base at B/Hill recently is that the RFDS supplies and maintains a substantial emergency medical supplies box containing equipment, medical drugs, urgent procedure info etc, to most of the major stations in remote areas. It is a large (about the size of a large waeco) and expensive kit, kept locked, which I think from memory the stations purchase, and the RFDS keeps up to date. The use of them is available to anyone in the outback requiring urgent medical treatment, and persons at these stations trained in the use of these kits access and use them whilst in communication with a medical officer back at the RFDS base, until expert help arrives.
Anyone passing through B/Hill should visit the RFDS base, their presentation for visitors is just great.
Deffinitely a Must Do.

Motherhen replied:

Thanks Steeplejack - I had not heard of remote area first aid courses.

At regular first aid training, we always were saying 'but what if --" to the trainer, as training was 'do not leave the casualty'. Most of us were living on farms or small holdings and expected to be alone with our partner with no-one in yelling distance if disaster struck.

Even in mock scenarios that the longer courses used to encompass, once i had to play a stab wound victim - slipping with the bait knife and embedding it deep into my thigh. Even as a mock up scenario, the person 'sent' to my assistance, made her first comment "how far away is your car" I replied "about 1 km up the beach" "how am i going to get you out of here?" as the puzzled examiner looked on, watching for the basics of Don't try and remove the knife, re-assure the casualty etc.

I agree that no first aid kit can substitute for good training. Fortunately i have never needed to use mine in any life threatening situation.

Motherhen

Bob Y. - Qld replied:

Steeplejack,

Methinks you have had an incident happen to you, that has prompted this post. You make a good point!!!

Our local ambo has done our first aid training for a number of years, and is an ex-bushie, so is a very practical person, and realises the need for appropriate first aid, for outback people.

He tailors our courses to suit the type of incidents we might encounter, on station. Luckily, we have a good (not perfect though) communication structure, and most staff are always with a mate. We have an RFDS medical kit as mentioned above, and it has been invaluable, over the years.

The method of CPR has changed over the years too, and when some staff had concerns about this, they were told: "Any CPR is better than none"

Travel safe, Folks,

Hooroo,
Bob.

Member - Steve NT replied:

As pointed out by my Senior First aid instructor, Senior first aid will cover 90/95% of the situations you come across from day to day.

A Remote First Aid course would pick up the rest.

Don't get me wrong when I get home and before the next season my wife and I will up grade to a remote first aid course.

Actually today I went up to get some bread and came across an accident, I was the only one there with First Aid out of about 10 people there, luckily I didn't need it today.

Cheers Steve.

Member - Barnesy (SA) replied:

Good point steeplejack. Personally i tend to become complacent as i work in emergency department of a hospital. but a lot of people don't know basic first aid.
the more training and practise people get the better. i would suggest doing both courses to consolidate what you learn.

Barnesy