Many believe the State Emergency Service is just there to cover roofs and cut up storm-felled trees, but volunteers at last week’s tragic car crash near Moruya proved otherwise.
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Nine Moruya volunteers helped a Moruya Fire and Rescue crew free a woman from her car, so paramedics could help her.
“We have had a road-crash rescue capability since we started 35 years ago,” unit controller Peter Collins said.
Mr Collins said attending crashes “doesn’t suit everybody,” especially given their volunteer status.
“It can be very traumatic,” he said.
“Psychologically, you need to be tough and be prepared.
“We have been to some not-very-pretty accidents over the years.
“Typically we have two or three bad accidents like this per year.
“It used to be more, but now cars and roads are
getting better, even if people aren’t getting any more
cautious.”
Traumatised volunteers can reach out to an SES professional critical incident team after incidents such as last Thursday’s tragedy.
“We don’t get a lot of
rescues that are as tough as that one,” Mr Collins said.
“We will be watching our members closely over the next couple of weeks.”
Volunteers complete a road-crash rescue course, mid-way through their second year, with the unit.
The Moruya unit has half-a-dozen car wrecks in its yards, which volunteers practise on with hydraulic cutters – the jaws of life.
“If the car is on its wheels, we can cut off the doors and then the side pillar,” Mr Collins said.
“If it is on its side, we take the roof off.
“If it is on its roof, we get in through the back area.”
Volunteers refresh their skills regularly and undertake competency tests.
When arriving at an accident scene, Mr Collins said all emergency services worked together on a plan of action.
“The services worked very well together and the ambulance crews are a pleasure to work with,” Mr Collins said.
On Thursday, Moruya Fire and Rescue were the first rescue crew on the scene after police and paramedics.
The four-person crew undertook fire protection and commenced popping the passenger door of a damaged vehicle, so paramedics could gain access to the injured female driver.
The woman was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Mr Phillips said SES volunteers arrived soon to help.
A Fire and Rescue officer then drove the injured woman in an ambulance to Moruya.
“This freed an Ambulance officer to be with the patient while she was being transported,” Mr Phillips said.
