Emergency Services will help keep Schoolies safe

Emergency Services personnel will be well prepared for the influx of people celebrating at the Schoolies festival on the Gold Coast, Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell said today.

Speaking in State Parliament, Mr Purcell said the Department of Emergency Services was taking a leading role in ensuring the safety of those attending Schoolies.

“With the population of the Gold Coast swelled by the school leavers and the extra demand this brings for medical services, the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) deploys extra resources to the region, over and above normal staffing levels,” Mr Purcell said.

“The QAS also establishes a dedicated Ambulance Treatment Centre in Surfers Paradise for the entire 10 day period. The centre is designed to treat patients who do not require hospitalisation. All cases requiring medical transport are assessed and treated in this facility initially, and if needed are transported by a paramedic crew to the Gold Coast Hospital.

“This significantly reduces the number of cases needed to be transported to hospital, reducing the additional demand on both the Ambulance Service and the public hospital system.

“Volunteers of the State Emergency Service (SES) also have an important role at Schoolies. SES volunteers team up with paramedics to assist at the field triage point; help transport patients on stretchers; and conduct roving patrols to identify people who need medical assistance.

“At peak periods during Schoolies, especially during the first and second weekends, there can be up to 150 SES volunteers on the ground working until early in the morning.

“A significant amount of planning goes into Schoolies Week each year. The Department of Emergency Services works with State and Local Government Agencies, the Event Coordinator, the Gold Coast community and other volunteer networks including PCYC, Teen Challenge and others.

“This collaboration, commitment, and leadership demonstrated by operational staff and volunteers at all levels in the Department of Emergency Services means the Queensland community can have full confidence that every effort is being made to make this year’s Gold Coast Schoolies Week as safe as possible,” Mr Purcell concluded.

Media contacts: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571;
Daniel Landon 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976.