Reference no: EM133281586

You and your partner have been called to a patient at 2300 hours who has been involved in a head on collision with a traffic light at an intersection. The crash has caused the intersection to lose power and lighting. The patient is slumped forward over the steering wheel and appears to be unconscious. There is broken glass and sharp objects scattered across the road and inside the driver and passenger side interior.

Your partner has notified you of a spill coming from underneath the bonnet of the car, with a strong smell.

It is currently raining, but the weather is worsening, and a storm is approaching.

You conduct a scene analysis before entering the area.

1. What are some situational factors you need to consider for safe access and egress when arriving at the above scene?

2. What are some hazards you can identify from the above scene and the consequential dangers as a result of these?

3. Who would you need to contact to assist with the above scene management? (e.g external support to help manage the scene hazards)

4. Use the risk matrix provided below as a guide.

Conduct a risk assessment based on the safety of the above scene and determine a risk rating to confirm if you should or should not enter the scene.

a. What is the risk rating you have determined for this incident?

b. Explain your answer in relation to why you will or will not approach the vehicle?

5. For the purpose of this question, you have determined that the scene is safe enough to approach, and your first priority is to move the driver to a safer location and begin patient assessment. What routine equipment would you require to assist with removing the patient from the vehicle and transferring them to the ambulance? You are unaware of the extent of the head and spinal injuries at this point in time.

6. Explain the purpose of each piece of equipment you have identified in the question above.

The Scenario

You are an emergency response officer working with a helicopter team in the Snowy Mountains, Australia. Dispatch has informed you of a 24-year-old female who has collided with a tree while skiing down a terrain. You have been informed the location is not easily or quickly accessible via foot and is not accessible via vehicle. The patient is unable to be moved due to a suspected spinal injury.

7. What hazards are associated with the dangerous rescue of this patient?

8. What specialist equipment or resources would you require to attempt a rescue in this environment?

9. Explain the purpose of each piece of equipment you have identified in the question above.

10. When following an access and egress procedure, how would you ensure you are continually monitoring the patients welfare and safety at any scene?

11. How would you ensure you are continually monitoring your fellow crews' welfare and safety when attending to a patient where a complex access and egress is required?

The Scenario

You are attending a scene where a vehicle has crashed into a power pole late at night. As you are loading the patient onto the stretcher the power cuts out and the street lights shut off. This has limited your vision of the external environment and the patient in front of you.

12. Explain how you would address this barrier and ensure the safety of the patient and crew around you.

13. How would you ensure you are using the appropriate equipment methods when utilising resources for access and egress?

14. List a minimum of three specific documents or guidelines you would reference to support your response above regarding appropriate methods for utilising equipment.

The Scenario

Dispatch has informed you that an adventure park has called for assistance with a 12-year-old boy who has a suspected compound fracture of his left femur. He is currently unable to weight bare and is still on the high ropes course platform, 7 metres above the ground. He is in severe pain and the next ladder to the ground is three platforms away in either direction. As a result of this, you require specialist equipment to transfer the patient to the ground for treatment.

15. Provide an example of three pieces of specialised equipment you would need to retrieve this patient?