New equipment lifts Bellarine SES readiness for complex rescues

LOCAL emergency service VICSES Bellarine Unit can respond more effectively to casualty handling and trauma events following financial support from the Community Bank Bellarine.

A grant of $5,000 enabled the Bellarine VICSES branch to purchase two patient handling and multi-trauma manakins to assist with the unit’s weekly training.

The manakins are used to conduct search and rescue exercises. The unit now has enough manakins available to simulate a multi-casualty scenario, including loss of limb or impalement.

Members commented on how the new manakins were more manageable, lighter and more flexible than the older products.

SES member David Varley said the manikins added a level of realism that is otherwise difficult to replicate.

“Handling a realistic-weight casualty, particularly during stretcher work and uphill extraction, is vital training and highlighted the physical, technical and teamwork demands of real rescue situations,” he said.

The exercise also included members from the Geelong SES Unit, strengthening inter-unit training and coordination.

“As a volunteer, I can say with confidence that this grant directly enhances the quality of our training and our preparedness to respond effectively when the community needs us most,” Varley said.

VICSES Bellarine Unit finance officer Adrian Sharp said the upgraded training resources would also support recruitment and retention.

“Search and rescue and casualty handling training exercises are aimed at preparing members to respond to incidents within our response area,” he said.

“Through the use of the new manikins, there are more learning opportunities and skills development for new and existing SES members.

“The manikins will be a valuable inclusion in the unit’s casualty handling training exercises in the future.”