Female volunteers take the reins at SES Women in Rescue event

SANDBAGGING, pumping and water diversion, domestic rescue kit drills and casualty handling were just some of the disciplines Special Emergency Services (SES) volunteers focused on at a Women in Rescue event at the Bellarine’s station earlier this month.

More than a dozen of the region’s committed female SES volunteers made their way to Drysdale for the annual day with servicewomen also undertaking numerous scenarios.

 

 

 

The day is rotated around the regions in terms of location and organised in collaboration with the SES’s statewide branch, as well as the regions, to provide female volunteers with ample training.

Volunteer at SES Bellarine, unit controller at SES Geelong and Leopold resident, Rachel Vella, declared the day a massive success and expects it to become more widespread across more regions in Victoria.

“The whole idea of women in rescue is the idea that traditionally emergency services have been male dominated and over time and in recent years that has started to change,” Ms Vella said.

“The day’s main objective is just to build confidence with women in rescue roles.

“We often see in the SES that women might take a backseat and let the men jump in, especially if they are new or young. So this really just reinforced a welcoming environment where everyone feels supported, while also creating a networking opportunity in the process.”

The event’s scenario that afternoon was a “car vs cyclists” situation, which began with a casualty trapped under a car and one lying in front of the car.

 

 

 

The scenario required lifting and cribbing, casualty handling, a walk out with the stretcher mules for both casualties and then transporting them up an incline with the low angle access system, according to Ms Vella.

The scenarios also allowed female participants to correctly utilise heavy equipment in a safe and informed fashion. SES stations locally situated include SES Bellarine, SES Geelong, SES Corio, SES South Barwon, SES Torquay and down to SES Winchelsea.

The location of the annual event is based on the residence of participants.

If you are interested in becoming an SES volunteer, head to www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us and find your nearest brigade today.