Would you know what to do at an emergency trauma scene?

Every minute counts at a trauma scene or accident, and people living in regional areas know those minutes are even more precious when medical services are hundreds of kilometres away.

Nutrien Ag Solutions have joined forces with CareFlight to equip country communities with life-saving skills, so more people know what to do when confronted by incidents such as farm injuries or car accidents.

CareFlight is best-known as an aeromedical charity with a clear mission to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community.

Recently, CareFlight professionals travelled to Wee Waa, Narrabri, and Gunnedah thanks to Nutrien Ag Solutions to deliver a practical and comprehensive emergency trauma training course for locals, particularly agricultural workers, with the added benefit of attendees being able to take part without travelling too far from home.

“A lot of people arrive at situations, and they just freeze, they just don’t know what to do, so it’s about giving the first on the scene the confidence to try and save the patient,” said Greg Ferguson, CareFlight operation support.

“We try and equip them with some basic skills where they can keep a patient alive and help them until an ambulance or other responders get there.

“I think particularly in the country, where there are a lot of farmers and people travelling between towns who come across accidents, people arrive at an accident and they see this trauma and it could be a multiple trauma, could be multiple people involved, the important thing and I think the vital thing for us is that is we try and equip them with some basic skills to help.

“Also, if you’re going to get involved in a trauma and help the patient, it’s important that the area is safe.

“Your safety is important as well because you can’t obviously help the patient if you’re also injured.”

The course aims to build knowledge, skills and confidence to improve long-term patient outcomes and build resilience in communities.

Trained by clinical professionals, the course is a hands- on mix of theory and simulation-based trauma response training, making it as realistic as possible to prepare people for accident scenes that everyone hopes they never have to face.

The local training involved agricultural trauma scenarios using simulation manikins, where participants worked together in teams with their colleagues to learn about trauma care skills and communication at accident scenes.

Scenario training utilises tools like CareFlight’s CrashSim which replicates a motor vehicle accident.

The program also covers the triage of patients, assessment and scene risk awareness.

And teaches terminology and procedures for an efficient and effective handover to medical personnel when they arrive on scene.

Participants practiced the skills needed to make appropriate decisions, communicate with others at the scene and take action that could help to save a life.

The workshop covered: airway management procedures and skills, haemorrhage control skills, stabilisation and safe extraction of patients from a motor vehicle, motorbike helmet removal and when to remove, treatment of burn and crush injuries, patient assessment and triage, hand-over techniques to professional medical personnel.

“First responders, whether local passers-by, farmers or others may need to help sustain life for trauma patients until professional medical help arrives,” said CareFlight chief executive officer Mick Frewen.

“Over more than 37 years, our teams have experienced first-hand how important those first few minutes after an accident can be.

“Through the emergency trauma training initiative, CareFlight’s team of clinical professionals will deliver training that’s practical and targeted to those working in the agriculture industry.”

Nutrien Ag Solutions head of safety Richard Dovison said the more people who have these skills in their toolbox, the more lives can be saved.

“According to SafeWork Australia, the fatality rate on Australian farms is almost eight times higher than the rate across other industries,” said Mr Dovison in a media statement when the training partnership was launched late last year. The facts are very clear on the high-risk profile associated with working in agriculture.

“Failure to address these unenviable statistics will result in no improvement in the safety and health of regional communities.

“So, the goal for us is clear, we will help equip our ag communities with essential skills and training to protect lives and reduce fatalities.”

Mr Dovison explained Nutrien Ag Solutions’ 4000 employees and farmer customers across the country work with heavy machinery, large animals and in isolated locations every day, often hundreds of kilometres from the nearest hospital or emergency clinic.

“Every day regional Australians often find themselves at the frontline of emergency incidents, so we want to make sure our communities are prepared and confident to take the right actions that could save a life,” said Mr Dovison.