Mike Fox

Throwback to dad giving Cuba a pep talk on his first day of on the job training. Happy International Dog Day!

🥥🌴☀️🏄🏼‍♂️

Victorian paramedics love their job but they are forced to work over 800 hours over incidental overtime every day.

But Ambulance Victoria and the Victorian Government still haven’t come up with any solutions.

Ambos are dedicated to saving lives but they deserve a life too. We need proper end of shift managment now.

Please help us get the message across to the Victorian Government.

https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/ambos-deserve-to-have-a-life-too

Great book! Go Matt!

Taking in a matinee!

Struggling Ambulance Victoria misses key response time target Victorian hospitals and paramedics faced record demand last quarter, with new figures revealing Ambulance Victoria again failed to meet a key target.

I have been ramped at hospital since 9pm… it’s now 2.10am

For over 5 hours we have been providing ongoing care to multiple patients on the ramp (that’s a corridor inside the ED where patients wait for a cubicle)

In addition to our original patient we relieved three other crews who were past their shift finish.

The hospital staff are working hard, and all paramedics are trying to provide ‘best care’ to patients. But the under resourcing and mis-utilization of health care resources continues to cause systemic patient harm.

These issues have been building for many years, and involve both state and federal governments. Lots of the issues are outside of our control. However how ambulances and paramedics are utilized IS completely within our control.

Reform call taking and dispatch
Save intensive care paramedics for the sickest patients
Fix our broken rostering system
Dispatch crews to cases appropriately, considering their length of shift
Ensure senior managers and the executive lead by example when it comes to our organizational values

Cold and wet ParkRun this morning! Great job Ben on being just shy of a PB

.miltonn

Well done Phil, a real gentleman of the ambulance service

Congratulations to Phil Nestor who has reached the milestone of 36 years with AV! 🎉

Phil was recently awarded AV's 35-year medal clasps in recognition of his service.

Phil’s paramedic journey began when he joined the Metropolitan Ambulance Service as a student paramedic in 1988.

Before joining, he served as a medic in both the RAAF and the Army, worked as a Div-2 nurse, and even had a stint as a security guard.

Over the past 35 years, Phil has worked at various branches including City, Windsor, and Wheelers Hill, and has been part of the Cranbourne team since 2012.

Phil has also worked in rural branches as an on-call single paramedic and has educated firefighters in responding to medical emergencies.

One of his proudest accomplishments though, has been his role as a Clinical Instructor, mentoring student paramedics from 1992 until 2019.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had a long career with AV. The best part is the countless wonderful people I have been blessed to work alongside of over the decades.

“I’m grateful that I’ve been a part of the organisation that is AV and made my small contribution to the community."

MEL > ZQN ✈️
With the best ❤️

96 years old today! Very nice of her to come by for some cake and tea 😊 Nana still says she’s more famous than me because she’s been on two TV shows and I’ve only been on one 😅

Swipe ➡️ for some cheekiness

From ‘another paramedic’ to ‘work mates’ to ‘work husbands’ - great to see this bloke lock down the girl of his dreams

Congratulations Eamon and Renee! 💍

5 years ago today we celebrated the launch of the Paramedics TV show! Great to look back at these smiling faces and see where we all are now.

It was such a great project to be involved in - definitely had its challenges, inviting audiences in to see our daily lives and some of our patient’s toughest moments. But now I can look back fondly on the good times we had, sharing patient’s stories and helping give the community a bit of insight into what we do every day

I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us all! Well done to everyone who participated and supported the project over the years. And to everyone that watched - thank you 😊

It’s Red Nose Day! Which means it’s time to get silly for a serious cause 🙃

What is Red Nose Day?

Red Nose Day is the second Friday of August every year. Funds raised on Red Nose Day over the last 30 years have resulted in an incredible 85 per cent reduction in sudden infant deaths. That’s 11,618 babies saved and counting.

Red Nose Day sparked a global movement and catalysed research into the reasons why babies die suddenly in their sleep.

And because of that, we now have six evidence-based steps all parents can take to reduce the risk of their baby dying in their sleep.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible public support for Red Nose Day.

Because more than 3,000 babies still die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in Australia. We are losing them to stillbirth, SIDS among other things.

3,000 little lives taken before they’ve had the chance to grow up – that's 9 little lives taken every single day. And 9 Australian families devastated, every single day.

[Source: Red Nose Day]

What are the six steps to sleeping baby safely?

1. Always place baby on their back to sleep
2. Keep baby’s head and face uncovered
3. Keep baby smoke free before and after birth
4. Ensure a safe sleeping environment for baby (safe cot, safe mattress, safe bedding). Avoid soft bedding, teddies or other additional bedding.
5. Sleep baby in a safe cot in the parents’ room for the first 6-12 months (baby needs their own space to sleep)
6. Breastfeed baby where possible

[SOURCE: Red Nose - Safe Sleeping]

How can you help?

Wear a red nose! Purchase one for your car! Donate on their website! Spread information (using resources from Red Nose) about safe sleeping practices!

International Paramedics Day 2023!

A chance to recognize the hard work of paramedics around the world! Every day I get to work with some of the best people you’ll ever meet. They are smart, caring and professional. Here’s just a snippet of the paramedics I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with

Thanks to all our colleagues who continue to work hard under ever increasing demand. The job has changed in the last 10 years but so have we. Paramedicine looks very exciting moving forward and I’m so pleased to be a part of it

Happy ‘Thank a First Responder’ Day!

Every day we’re lucky to work with excellent human beings who have made a career out of helping others. It’s not just paramedics, police and firies - we also have surf life savers, SES, coast guard, DELWP, non-emergency ambulance staff, GoodSAM responders and more! Special shout out to those who volunteer their time to make the world a better place - thank you!

🚑🚔🚒🏄🏼‍♂️⛑🛥🌲🚙📱



#000

Dan Andrews, Monash University - sign me up

Caught up with current and future paramedics, Holly, Alessia and Jake with some good news.

We're delivering Australia's first Paramedic Practitioners - and they'll be trained right here at Monash University.

These new paramedics will get advanced training so they'll be able to diagnose and treat patients on the road.

Meaning you'll get urgent care when you need it, and avoid a trip to the hospital where possible.

And by treating patients in the field, they'll help ease pressure on our emergency departments too.

It just makes sense.

Happy International Nurses Day!

Although I’ve left the profession now, it’s still great to work closely with our nursing friends in hospital, aged care, primary care and many other settings! I hope that you all feel the love today - thanks for everything you do!

📸: baby Foxy and mum, 2013

Have you had your flu vax yet?

Everyone six months and older is recommended to get an influenza (flu) vaccine each year. The flu vaccine not only protects you, but it also can help protect those around you.

Influenza is a common viral infection that affects people of all ages.
While it can be a mild disease for some, it can also cause very serious illness in otherwise healthy people. It can lead to hospitalisation and can cause death.
Vaccination is the safest way to protect yourself and others from influenza.

Influenza vaccines are given each year to protect against the most common strains of the virus.
The strains can change from year to year so the vaccines may be updated from one season to the next, so it’s important to get vaccinated every year.

You should get vaccinated each year from mid- April onwards to be protected before the influenza season, which is usually June to September in most parts of Australia. However, it’s never too late to be vaccinated as influenza can spread all year round.
If you had last seasons flu vaccine late last year or early this year, you should still get the new season vaccine this year when it becomes available.
Influenza vaccines can be given on the same day with a COVID-19 vaccines and most other vaccines.

So get your flu shot today!

More info - health.gov.au

A short video review outlining Manual Pressure Augmentation (MPA)

HANDS-ON DEFIBRILLATION - is it REALLY worth it? The Manual Pressure Augmentation technique is a relatively new one, but we already have some evidence that it is associated with high ROSC. Is it really saf...

Swipe to see what I wanted for Christmas
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#2022

This week we welcome the last of our 631 paramedic recruits for 2022.

Our new graduate ambulance paramedics began a four-week induction program this week before they hit the road in Traralgon, Wendouree, Shepparton and Eaglehawk in early 2023.

We wish you all long and safe careers providing life-saving care!

Bring your son to work day!

Whilst I’m doing office work, Cuba is brightening the days of our paramedics (and getting a healthy amount of pats!)

In Ballarat and feeling crook?

In a life threatening emergency you should call 000. However if the matter is urgent but not life threatening there are ways to take strain off 000, Ambulance Victoria and hospital emergency departments while still getting the care you need.

The Ballarat Priority Primary Care Center is open from 10am to 10pm and provides free medical care when it’s urgent but not an emergency. The center is staffed by a team of GPs and nurses to provide immediate medical care for non life threatening injuries or illnesses. Care is available for everyone, with or without a Medicare card.

Click on this link to see the location of this and other PPCC:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/priority-primary-care-centres-ppccs

Click on this link to see the location of GP respiratory clinics: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/covid-19/gp-respiratory-clinics-and-hospital-respiratory-clinics-covid-19

You can also call Virtual ED for a telehealth appointment with a doctor:
https://www.vved.org.au/

Thank you for helping to keep our members free to respond to patients who need emergency care.

So we come to the end of another Movember!

Thanks everyone who has donated to our team Moustached Medics. Every dollar helps support mens health!

It’s not too late to donate! Head to

https://au.movember.com/mospace/13267577

The Mo will return in 2023…

Hard Collar, Soft Collar, No Collar Words by Mark Ward Perhaps calling this a myth is a little harsh because evidenced based practice is meant to evolve. What used to be considered good practice, can sometimes be a

I’ve had a few questions about this handy little device I’ve been issued as part of the First Responder Shock Trial (FIRST)

What is it?

The CellAED is an ultraportable, fully automatic, single use defibrillator which is small and simple to use. It was approved by the TGA last year. As you can see in the picture, it has a setting for use on infants (