A number of volunteers from the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service (RFS) and the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) attended the event.

Careflight’s MediSim program is designed to help teach emergency crews, who are often the first on an accident scene, to make critical decisions quickly.

The program provides high quality trauma training delivered by doctors, nurses and paramedics.

Life-like mannequins and a unique car crash rescue simulator capable of simulating a realistic motor vehicle accident are used during the practical component of the workshop giving participants an opportunity to practice in a safe and controlled environment.

CareFlight was invited to conduct the MediSim workshop in Holbrook by local emergency service volunteers who often attend crashes on the Hume Highway and were eager to receive best-practice training and techniques when managing trauma patients. 

CareFlight’s general manager of community engagement, and former Wagga resident, Trent Osborn said the training was crucial as local emergency service volunteers were often on the scene of a major incident responding with other emergency services including ambulance, police and fire brigades.

“Every volunteer that trains with CareFlight has the opportunity to learn from highly experienced emergency response clinicians including a specialist doctor and two intensive care paramedics,” Mr Osborn said.

“This directly benefits the patient and the community as it assists emergency service volunteers to respond quickly and effectively in trauma situations.”

MediSim has been running nationally for four years and is delivered at no cost to participants with the help of Origin Energy, Johnson & Johnson Medical and the generosity of CareFlight supporters.

The program has conducted more than 140 workshops and trained more than 2000 emergency service volunteers around Australia.