The local headquarters of the Bairnsdale SES Unit was the venue for a busy morning of experiences for 15 second-year Monash University medical students during their recent rural placements in Bairnsdale and Sale.
Hosted by SES volunteers and an Ambulance Victoria paramedic, the students gained an insight into the realities of emergency medical response in remote or isolated situations. After an introduction to the role and function of the SES, wilderness response paramedic, Andy Oates, discussed the dilemmas and imperatives of the initial response to casualties in remote locations – be it road trauma, farm incidents or accidents in the bush - and the importance of a structured approach to assessing injured patients. 
All students engaged with different hands-on scenarios to practise stabilising patients. Mr Oates also emphasised the importance of understanding the patient’s experiences while awaiting the arrival of other emergency services, and the delays to hospital which can due to the remoteness of some locations. 
Mr Frank Carter (SES unit deputy controller) and Maureen Kindred (SES unit officer) showed the students around the SES headquarters.
Students were introduced to the equipment and methods in a range of rescue situations, including transporting casualties out from rugged or remote environments.

IMAGE: Monash medical students got an SES insight last week. (PS)