Government will block Opposition push to limit emergency medical aid

The Queensland Government will block any Opposition attempt to prohibit highly trained and dedicated firefighters providing urgent medical assistance in support of, or prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) crews can, and do in a limited number of incidents, provide medical assistance, in support of, or prior to the arrival of ambulance services.

“While the Queensland Ambulance Service has embarked on a record recruitment drive for extra 505 officers over two years, there will be a limited number of incidents where QFRS will be on scene before an ambulance,” Mr Roberts said.

“Instances where fire and rescue crews were tasked as the first responder to provide medical assistance or assisting invalids represented less than 0.4% of the total number incidents QFRS attended. This also represents less than 0.04% of the total number of incidents attended by the QAS.”

“These incidents are not regarded as QFRS core business, but the assistance provided on these occasions is important.”

“I can only conclude from comments by the National Party spokesman Ted Malone criticising QFRS attending these incidents that the Opposition wants to prohibit highly trained and skilled fire and rescue officers providing this immediate and potentially life-saving assistance to Queenslanders.”

Mr Roberts said QFRS training programs are designed to ensure that all full-time operational staff are trained to Senior First Aid level and hold advanced cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) qualifications.

“As the community would expect, there are agreements in place between QAS and QFRS to ensure that the services work cooperatively and cohesively when a life-threatening or emergency response situations exist,” Mr Roberts said.

“QFRS agrees to provide assistance to the QAS in emergency response situations.”

Mr Roberts said he would reassure Queenslanders that emergency services would continue to work together, as they have always done, for the benefit of the whole community.

“I can provide that reassurance, but the Opposition cannot,” he said.

24 July 2008
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3247 8194