By BEN CAMERON
Labor pledges Emergency Medical Response powers…
ALL Pakenham firefighters would be trained to provide CPR in emergency situations under a State Opposition plan if returned to power on 29 November.
The Pakenham Fire Station would be granted Emergency Medical Response powers following limited trials in some CFA stations including Cranbourne and Dandenong.
EMR, which would be installed at all intergrated CFA stations, would dispatch firefighters at the same time as paramedics to attend cardiac arrests and non-breathing patients.
The Opposition has also promised to fund specialist training so all Pakenham firefighters can provide basic life support and give CPR.
Pakenham fire brigade Operations Officer Jim Dore said about a third of their volunteers were already EMR trained, having come from other brigades where training was available.
“It (EMR) would be enthusiastically received,” he said.
“We’d be more than happy to get the training.
“Nearly all our volunteers have level two first aid training, so it’s an extra two days training.
“(EMR) Trials (including in Cranbourne and Dandenong) were funded by the Department of Health, so there’s no money for it at this stage.”
Defbrillators would also be installed on all fire trucks however Mr Dore said their three major appliances were already fitted out following fund-raising efforts from volunteers.
“We got them about six months ago. They all cost approximately $1300 each,” he said.
“Many volunteer brigades across the Cardinia Group have them too,” he said.
Labor candidate for Bass Sanjay Nathan said EMR would help save lives.
“Across Pakenham and Cardinia, Labor’s emergency response plan will be a lifeline for locals,” he said.
EMR training is currently limited to Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters where the rollout has reduced response times to certain incidents like cardiac arrest by over a minute.
