Nights this week, saw lots of multi agency working with the Police and Fire and Rescue Service. Thanks to our partner agencies for their help and support. Joint working = patient focused = better patient outcomes.
The hot weather has already led to several water related incidents both locally and nationally. With school holidays in full swing there are likely to be more. Working in a coastal location these risks seem part of everyday life however tragedies can occur in inland bodies of water. Please remember although it may be hot on land or on shore, water and sea temperatures still remain cold.
The RNLI run their respect the water campaign to high light the risks of water. google RNLI Respect for information and advice.
The school holidays and good weather always lead to an increase in visitor numbers to the local area. This leads to an increase in incidents, so please choose wisely and think do you need an emergency ambulance?
Hopefully the good weather will continue, have a good week and stay safe.
Sunday, 24 July 2016
Sunday, 10 July 2016
Its good to talk
This week has seen me catching up with some admin tasks as well as covering the operational commanders role.
We have several new starters in our sector and as a team we try to ensure they feel welcomed and help them find their feet in what must be a daunting first few weeks. All new starters will have a trust induction process prior to them coming to us. Locally we also run an induction day specific to our area. We also have a booklet which new staff are given with all sorts of useful information and contacts in. Those of us who have been in the service for sometime take a lot of this for granted but knowing how to complete your time sheet or claim your travelling expenses are important and often mind boggling when you first do it, add this to the normal everyday pressures of a new job and you can see why it is important we support our new starters.
All new starters in our sector will have regular meeting with their Operations Officer to ensure they are supported and to identify any issues which arise. These meetings form part of the probation or preceptorship process.
Looking at support the Trust also have a staying well service which allows any of our staff direct access to a confidential support network. Staff are able to self refer and access counselling, physiotherapy and other services.
Support is a bit of a coverall description and can vary from a quick hello how are you, to formal meetings. As an Operations Officer this is a large part of my role, but all staff have a part to play in the support process. it may be that one of your colleagues notices you are struggling and I would hope they will do something to help.
Those of you of a certain age will remember Buzby and his slogan "Its good to talk" this is a true now as it has ever been.
Stay safe and have a good week.
Decompression Sickness (The Bends)
Covering days as Operations officer this weekend has seen me juggling incidents with staffing.
Crews have been dealing with a variety of incidents across the patch. It has also been busy with events which also increase our demand.
The local coastguards and lifeboats have also been busy with a variety of incidents including sinking yachts, persons in the water and divers with decompression sickness.
Decompression sickness, also called the bends is caused by Nitrogen bubbles forming in the bloodstream and tissues of the body, these bubbles occur if a diver moves from deep water to the surface to quickly. Symptoms normally occur soon after the dive has finished and can include headache, vertigo, fatigue, rash , joint pain, weakness, paralysis, breathing problems, shock, unconsciousness and even death .Locally most divers who show symptoms of Decompression Sickness are flown by the Coastguard helicopter to the landing site at Whitecliff where they are met by a an ambulance and specialist dive doctor from the decompression chamber. Once assessed and transferred the divers will normally be placed in a decompression chamber.
A decompression chamber is a steel tank that can be pressurised. The pressure in a decompression chamber can be increased by closing the doors and pumping air in.During treatment for decompression sickness,typically the pressure is increased to correspond to the pressure found 18m under water. The diver breathes pure oxygen through a mask, which improves exhalation of nitrogen. Pressure in the chamber is reduced gradually until the diver reaches surface pressure again.Treatment typically lasts between five and six hours.Throughout treatment a specially trained helper stays with the diver in the chamber. The diver's condition is closely monitored by further examination of coordination and balance, sense of touch, etc.
What if you or a friend have symptoms?
Crews have been dealing with a variety of incidents across the patch. It has also been busy with events which also increase our demand.
The local coastguards and lifeboats have also been busy with a variety of incidents including sinking yachts, persons in the water and divers with decompression sickness.
Decompression sickness, also called the bends is caused by Nitrogen bubbles forming in the bloodstream and tissues of the body, these bubbles occur if a diver moves from deep water to the surface to quickly. Symptoms normally occur soon after the dive has finished and can include headache, vertigo, fatigue, rash , joint pain, weakness, paralysis, breathing problems, shock, unconsciousness and even death .Locally most divers who show symptoms of Decompression Sickness are flown by the Coastguard helicopter to the landing site at Whitecliff where they are met by a an ambulance and specialist dive doctor from the decompression chamber. Once assessed and transferred the divers will normally be placed in a decompression chamber.
A decompression chamber is a steel tank that can be pressurised. The pressure in a decompression chamber can be increased by closing the doors and pumping air in.During treatment for decompression sickness,typically the pressure is increased to correspond to the pressure found 18m under water. The diver breathes pure oxygen through a mask, which improves exhalation of nitrogen. Pressure in the chamber is reduced gradually until the diver reaches surface pressure again.Treatment typically lasts between five and six hours.Throughout treatment a specially trained helper stays with the diver in the chamber. The diver's condition is closely monitored by further examination of coordination and balance, sense of touch, etc.
What if you or a friend have symptoms?
- Stop the dive and keep calm.
- If the diver is unconscious, give first aid.
- Summon the emergency services immediately.
- Breathe pure oxygen if possible.
- Avoid over-exertion.
- Drink plenty of liquid.
- Any unusual condition after a dive could be decompression sickness.
- So if in doubt, get medical help.
Emergency services clearing the landing site at Whitecliff ready for the arrival of the Coastguard helicopter with two divers on Saturday.
Have a good week and stay safe.
Saturday, 2 July 2016
Choose well
After some leave I am back on nights this weekend and normal service is resumed. The past week or so have been fairly turbulent with the EU referendum, political upheaval, football results as just a few of the headlines.
Locally the summer events season is in full swing with beach volleyball this weekend and sand polo next headlining this month, many smaller events take place around the area aiming to promote local groups and often raise much needed funds for projects. In my normal way please try and support these events.
As we move towards the school holidays our trust area sees a huge increase in population from visitors and this leads to an increase in demand on our service. Plans are in place to deal with these increases and a mainstay of this is public education. There are alternatives to ambulances available to provide care and if we can direct people to these which ensure that we have resources available to respond to the most urgent cases.
Please think is there another source of care you can choose rather than 999?
Stay safe and hopefully you will not meet any of our crews.
Saturday, 18 June 2016
Volunteers.... Thank you.
Sorry another short blog this week. Not a huge amount to write about as I have been off work with a shoulder problem.
Thanks to the SWAST Staying Well Service and referral for physiotherapy I am now on the mend.
On a sad note the death of Labour MP Joe Cox has shaken democracy in this country. My thoughts are withe her family and friends at his distressing time.
This week has shown how variable the British weather can be with torrential rain and flooding around the country whilst areas have basked in high temperatures. Locally 25mm of rain fell in 20 minutes leading to localised flooding.
This weekend sees lots of events in Poole and Bournemouth ranging from Muddy runs, Race for life to Harry Paye day on the Quay at Poole. These events aim to raise funds for charities and a heart felt thanks must go out to all those help organise these events and volunteer their time. Many of the volunteers you will see collecting funds , marshalling at he sharp end. Please don't forget all those who also work hard behind the scenes away from the limelight , their role is just as important. Thank you to all those who give up their time to support charities and organisations
Those of you who have read my blogs before can probably guess where this is going!
Yes that's right; why not give up some of your spare time to volunteer for a charity that you feel strongly about and want to support. There are all sorts of skills that these charities can use and not just at the front end collecting or delivering the service. To quote the BBC "Do some thing amazing...."
This coming week also means as a country we will be deciding our EU future. This is not a politically motivated blog but please ensure you vote. Its no good moaning about the outcome if you don't take part.
Have a good week and hopefully some more exciting things to report next week.
Thanks to the SWAST Staying Well Service and referral for physiotherapy I am now on the mend.
On a sad note the death of Labour MP Joe Cox has shaken democracy in this country. My thoughts are withe her family and friends at his distressing time.
This week has shown how variable the British weather can be with torrential rain and flooding around the country whilst areas have basked in high temperatures. Locally 25mm of rain fell in 20 minutes leading to localised flooding.
This weekend sees lots of events in Poole and Bournemouth ranging from Muddy runs, Race for life to Harry Paye day on the Quay at Poole. These events aim to raise funds for charities and a heart felt thanks must go out to all those help organise these events and volunteer their time. Many of the volunteers you will see collecting funds , marshalling at he sharp end. Please don't forget all those who also work hard behind the scenes away from the limelight , their role is just as important. Thank you to all those who give up their time to support charities and organisations
Those of you who have read my blogs before can probably guess where this is going!
Yes that's right; why not give up some of your spare time to volunteer for a charity that you feel strongly about and want to support. There are all sorts of skills that these charities can use and not just at the front end collecting or delivering the service. To quote the BBC "Do some thing amazing...."
This coming week also means as a country we will be deciding our EU future. This is not a politically motivated blog but please ensure you vote. Its no good moaning about the outcome if you don't take part.
Have a good week and hopefully some more exciting things to report next week.
Sunday, 12 June 2016
Just a thought
Just a brief blog this week, as I write this England have played and drawn their first match in the Euro 2016 tournament, the French police have won all three of their encounters with fans.
It is sad that the first three days have been marred by the clashes between fans and the police. This seems to happening across France and does not seem to be limited to one set of fans.
This road safety ad offers great advice, however has drawn critics as it seems to advocate getting behind the wheel after one drink is OK. As part of the emergency services response that deal with the aftermath of drink and more increasinly drug driving I will always advocate zero alcohol, drugs and driving.
Let's hope the issues in France with fans settle down and everyone stays safe. If you are a footy fan enjoy the tournament if not hopefully this nice weather will stay around.
Whatever you are doing stay safe and look after each other.
Sunday, 5 June 2016
Deer
A little bit of a diversion from my normal blog this week. Out side of work I am a keen walker and wildlife photographer. Luckily where I live I can indulge myself in both normally at the same time.
I have a particular interest in the Sika Deer of the Poole Harbour Basin and spend a lot of time photographing them. I thought I would share a few pictures with you.
I have a particular interest in the Sika Deer of the Poole Harbour Basin and spend a lot of time photographing them. I thought I would share a few pictures with you.
A Sika hind in winter coat
A white Sika stag.
These are leucistic not albino, it is only there coats which have changed.
They can be found in certain places around the Poole Harbour Basin.
A full grown Sika stag in all his glory
Another Leucistic stag.
It is believed all of the Sika deer locally are descended from a captive group which escaped from a deer park near Wareham. They are now a common sight around the Purbecks.
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