BOATIES who head over to Moreton Island are in good hands in an emergency with four Queensland Ambulance Service volunteers ready to help.
Three of the first responders – Denise Williams, Kath Wilson and William O’Shea, known as Sooty – live at Kooringal, while a fourth, Chris Lincoln, has a holiday home on the island.
First responders are trained in advanced first aid and provide initial care to patients until an ambulance or aero-medical evacuation arrives.
Ms Williams said the work was rewarding and the service they provided was important.
“It is so wonderful to be able to help someone who has chest pain, to be able to get attention for them, to order a helicopter with a doctor on board.”
The QAS volunteers are among many hard working people who give up their time to help the community and are being recognised during National Volunteer Week from May 8 to 14.
In addition to first responders, QAS has honorary ambulance officers, such as Vicki Harvey on Coochiemudlo Island, who volunteer in areas where there is no paramedic or ambulance station.
Ms Harvey said she had done nearly 1000 voluntary hours since she started as an officer five years ago.
“I absolutely love it,” she said.
So much so that Ms Harvey started to study nursing about 18 months ago and will complete exams shortly.
Ms Harvey has done everything from providing first aid to someone who had fallen off a bicycle to doing resuscitations.
As well as providing help, they co-ordinate transport by helicopter, ambulance and boat, depending on what is required.
Ms Williams said she started as a first responder at Kooringal in 2001 because there was a need for permanent Moreton Island residents to respond to emergencies.
“We are so vulnerable if anything happens because of where we live,” she said.
With only about 22 full-time residents at Kooringal, many of their cases involve tourists holidaying on Moreton Island.
When Ms Williams started volunteering, there was no ambulance on the island.
There is now one based at Tangalooma Island Resort, but access is dependent on the tides.
At other times, or in serious emergencies, evacuations are by boat or helicopter, landing on a helipad that has been built by the community.
Ms Williams said she had responded to people who had experienced heart attacks, abrasions and broken bones.
“Just a couple of days ago we had to walk to retrieve a small boy who had a broken arm.
“The tracks were so bad because there had been lots of people driving over them the last few weekends.”
QAS commissioner Russell Bowles said volunteers were an integral part of the service’s operations.
“Paramedics are on the front line every day helping save lives, but they could not do it without the support of community volunteers,” he said.
“National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to highlight their efforts and dedication and to thank them for all they do.
“We appreciate the time and effort our volunteers contribute towards providing the community with quality health care in their time of need.”
