CRUNCH TIME

biggest cause of death is from people bleeding externally. The second cause is airway obstruction when they can’t get air in or out due to injury.”

Performing these actions in a specific order is vital to obtaining a good outcome. If CPR is commenced while there is a massive, unchecked bleed, the patient is very likely to die. Hypothermia mitigation is also an important factor. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in a car crash in a hot desert, if someone loses blood they can die from being cold so we need to take that into consideration as well,” Dustin says.

It’s a fact that truck drivers are often the first on the scene at serious accidents, particularly in regional areas and the value of this training has been recognised by Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny and Northern Territory Road Transport Association Executive Officer Louise Bilato, who both have been working at integrating the training program into the road transport sector.

“This program is sensational,” Cam told attendees at the recent NatRoad conference in Queensland. “Ten per cent motor vehicle accident fatalities are in remote and regional Australia, where if you have an accident, you are eleven times more likely to die. And who is most likely to be first on the scene? The truck driver.”

The single simple act of correctly applying a tourniquet can drastically increase the life expectancy of an injured person.

Dustin also developed a small package of medical supplies which only weighs 350 grams and the kit includes a tourniquet, wound packing materials, a set adhesive chest seal and a pair of trauma sheers. There is a considered reason behind including only a limited number of items.

“People who are stressed can’t always fully function, so we take away options to keep it simple,” says Dustin. “Basic skills applied properly smash out of the park advanced skills done poorly. It reduces the effect of the trauma on the patient and extends their life expectancy, so when advanced care professionals arrive a lot of the work has already been done.”

Course participants learn how to hand over patients to paramedics in an effective manner by using concise and simple communications.

“First aid is not just about the victim, it’s also about the care providers,” says Dustin. “It’s a total package that we need to get across and we need to look after the people who respond, as well as the people we help.”

Witnessing severe trauma can have an effect on the responders’ mental wellbeing. This is also addressed during the training.

“You don’t get the overall capability until you’ve got the equipment and the knowledge combined together,” explains Dustin. “People in the field are prepared and are actually quite confident. With the knowledge associated with knowing what you are doing comes the realisation you can’t save everyone, and yet doing something is better than doing nothing.”

In 2019, the Tactical First Aid Project was recognised in London, England as the World Class Policing Award winner for achieving meaningful results in crucial and high-pressure situations.

“I see this as a huge step forward in modernising the way we maintain our oath to protect life and serve the community,” said Dustin at the Awards event. The potential for willing transport operators to undertake the training to make a life-saving difference is enormous.

“During the period 2017 to 2022 we’ve had more than 250 incidences and saved and estimated 90 lives,” says Dustin of the Queensland Police results. “Now instead of handing over someone who is really sick, we are handing over people to our ambulance officers who are no longer dying.”