The Yarra Junction CFA will now assist in cardiac arrest emergencies as part of the Fire Medical Response (FMR) program, as the two agencies look to bolster survival rates across the state.
Starting on 10 December, Yarra Junction CFA will be dispatched simultaneously to cardiac arrests with the nearest ambulance.
Ambulance Victoria (AV) strategically selected 50 brigades best positioned to complement its services across the state where CFA brigades may be able to reach a patient sooner.
Yarra Junction CFA captain Steve Spoor said it was an opportunity for the brigade to further help the people of Yarra Junction.
“I think it’s very important, for us it’s just another way that we can help our community out in any of those cardiac arrest cases that we’ll be responding to.
“So don’t be alarmed if you see a fire truck turn up first – we are here to help and we’re here to do our best, and an ambulance will be very, very close behind us.”
Yarra Junction CFA had 10 of its members undertake medical training which has enabled them to perform lifesaving actions in the event of a cardiac arrest.
“We’re not paramedics, but we have those lifesaving skills now that the paramedics have as well.
“With the amount of training we’ve done, we feel pretty prepared.”
CFA deputy chief officer Garry Cook said the program was a natural fit for CFA because of the 52,000 volunteers across the state.
“CFA has more than 1100 volunteer fire stations with more than 52,000 members,” Mr Cook said.
“This puts CFA in a unique position to complement the Ambulance Victoria response in 50 locations across Victoria to help deliver early intervention to cardiac arrests.”
“What this program means is that community members who call for an ambulance may receive both a fire truck and an ambulance. There is no specific order in which the services arrive to the incident.”
One of the trucks at Yarra Junction CFA has been fitted out with specialised medical gear too to further improve its ability to treat medical emergencies.
Ambulance Victoria regional operations executive director Danielle North said Victoria’s cardiac survival rates are one of the best in the world, thanks to high rates of early intervention.
“The Fire Medical Response program will improve survival rates for people in rural and regional Victoria and make access to emergency care in a cardiac arrest more equitable for all Victorians,” Ms North said.
“Quick intervention with CPR and a defibrillator has the greatest impact on improving a patient’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.”
“For every minute that CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.”
Mr Spoor reminded the public to not be alarmed if they see a firetruck turn up after requesting for an ambulance.
“I just want to get that across to the community that we’re here to help too, so don’t be scared if you do see a big red firetruck turn up as well.”
He said although CFA members aren’t as trained as paramedics, they would still be able to provide crucial care in the moments immediately after an incident.
“Obviously, we can’t administer drugs and that sort of stuff, but we can administer oxygen, we know how to do CPR, we know how to attend to trauma cases.
“We know what to do if you’ve got a bleed or to put it bluntly, if you’re missing an arm or a leg, we know how to stem the flow of blood.”
“We’re here to help.”
