Monaro RFS

Hands only CPR is a topic that is often discussed at our First Aid Application (FAA) training events. Hands only CPR is widely accepted around the world but the use of "Rescue Breaths" is the preferred option at this time (see the Australian Resuscitation Council Guidelines - Section 8 - dated 2010)

Even though the Australian Resuscitation Council favours the use of "Rescue Breaths", their Guideline 8, titled Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation states:

CHEST COMPRESSIONS ONLY
If rescuers are unwilling or unable to do rescue breathing they should do chest compressions only. If chest compressions only are given, they should be continuous at a rate of approximately 100/min.

It is also worth noting that the use of the initial breaths was removed from earlier guidelines as outlined in Guideline 8 - 2010 (see the flowchart below)

The final descission to use "Rescue Breaths" rests with the first aider.

The video (below) is one example how the British Heart Foundation is promoting "Hard and Fast CPR - it's not as hard as it looks"

Have you put your name down for First Aid Application (FAA) training?

The State Training Program for 2012 has been added to this web site as a pdf download. (see our downloads section or use the direct download button below)

State course nominations need to be approved by your local L&D Officer before being sent to Regional L&D Officers.

Please talk to you local L&D Officer (Mick Holton - Monaro Team) for assistance.

RFS Nominations for the 2012 VLP Close on Friday 27th January 2012.

The Volunteer Leaders Program is conducted externally by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM) and Australian Emergency Management.

We have been seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from volunteers interested in attending Volunteer Leader Programs throughout 2012.

There are limited spaces on these programs (State wide).

Need more information?

1. Check out the original Monaro RFS article HERE
2. Download the Developing Future Leaders Program Brochure (see the links below)
3. Visit the AFAC/AIPM Volunteer Leaders Program web site at http://knowledgeweb.afac.com.au/training/leadership/volunteer_leaders

How to submit your EOI

1. Download a copy of the VLP EOI word document (see the link below)
2. Complete the EOI word document and returned it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it prior to Friday 27 January 2012.

Any questions should be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Changes to OHS laws and the impact on volunteers in the emergency services

We have added a pdf document to our Work Health and Safety downloads section. This document was published as an article in the Australian Journal of Emergency Management Volume 26, No. 4, November 2011

The author of this document is Michael Eburn, Australian National University. Michael Eburn is a Senior Research Fellow in the ANU College of Law and Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University. He is currently engaged in a Bushfire CRC research project looking at the impact of law on fire and emergency management.

On the first of January 2012, the Australian states and territories implemented new, national work health and safety laws. These laws are modelled on the Model Work Health and Safety Bill published by Work Safe Australia (‘the Model Act’)

A significant feature of the new legislation was the inclusion of volunteers into the definition of ‘worker’.

Volunteers were already included in the definition of ‘worker’ in the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Queensland so the changes will be of most significance in the other States.

The download compares the position under the Model Act with the previous legal position to identify the implications for volunteers in the Australian emergency services.

The author has outlined that this information is not a comprehensive review of the legislation but is limited to an analysis of the key provisions that may impact on emergencyservice volunteers and this information cannot be considered as a substitute for legal advice to deal with specific situations and issues.

External link: http://www.em.gov.au/Publications/Australianjournalofemergencymanagement/Currentissue/Documents/AJEM%2026-4/WEMA%20Vol26No4_Eburn.PDF