CPR Training at Barjarg

A CPR course was conducted at Barjarg Fire shed on the 8th of March .There was a good attendance with 25 community and brigade members receiving training . The were 3 mannequins and so every body had a good go. The Group AED was also demonstrated . Probably the take away message is as follows .
Undertake chest compressions ,rate 100 per minute , for 2 minutes prior to expired air breathing ( mouth to mouth )  then progress to 2 breaths to every 30 chest compressions . Remember before starting resuscitation make sure some one phones for an ambulance .

CPR training at BARJARG

The Barjarg Rural Fire Brigade are hosting a training session for CPR and demonstrating the use of an AED .  The training has been opened up to the community as a way of the brigade engaging more widely with the community . So far there are just over 20 who are interested .

From Group Training Officer

Following on from the report at the last group meeting I have secured the Wang. training ground for Sunday 15th of April from 8.00 to 15.30 hr.The only problem is that they can only cater for 16 people so at this stage I`m looking at two nominations from each brigade. The day will be aimed at Crew leaders and new members. I will be contacting brigade captains next week but if you read this please email me your nominations as it will save a phone call and give your brigade a better chance of getting a place in case there are to many nominations.

I will be in touch

John Valcich

email [ johnvalcich1@bigpond.com ]

Setting Changes

The settings to access the mansfieldgroupcfa blog have been changed so that it can now be found by a search engine . There has been criticism regarding the difficulty in logging on to see the site . The confidentiality which was there has now gone as a consequence of the change . If you don't agree with the change please say so .

District 23 Ops Manager Report and Update

For easy access to what is happening in our district and for the You Tube report by Stewart Kreltsheim log onto his site . No pass words required .

Grassland Curing

This as you can see is a map of grassland curing . It gives an idea of how dry the grass is and therefore how well it will burn .As you can see with the exception of some of the high country and Gippsland the fuel i.e. grass is ready to go! What is also important is that there is a lot of grass and it is quite high .

Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)

Last year the Group decided to purchase an AED with funds made available by the State government . The AED  is now in the Mansfield Fire Station on the wall just near the Group Command Vehicle . If the Command Vehicle is going to an incident please take the AED with you . If you are unsure how it works attend a training session however you don't have to be trained to use it in an emergency but you will do a better job faster if you are trained .You can get an idea of what is involved by going to You Tube and viewing some of the clips . The clip above gives some idea of what you will encounter when and if you open the AED . It is  a Phillips FRx AED with Voice Prompts.ve .CPR must be commenced immediately if a sudden cardiac arrest occurs . A 000 call must also be made . Continue CPR while setting up the AED . The AED will not discharge a shock unless it is required . If help is not given to a cardiac arrest victim the mortality approaches 100 %

CPR Training at Barjarg

A request for "Expressions of Interest" in learning how to undertake CPR has been  been put out to the Barjarg Community . CPR is a skill that may save a life and no one knows when or for whom the presence of some one who is prepared to perform CPR will be critical . The Barjarg Brigade have opened up the training to any one in the community and so far there are 22 who are interested. The out come of the training will be posted on the blog at some stage .

Happy New Year and Australia Day

Although it has been fairly dry around Barjarg we have been fortunate not to have had to attend to any local fires ,yet.
In early March the brigade is going to run a CPR course for both the brigade members  who haven't been exposed to this as well as members of the local community . After all it is no good you knowing  about CPR but having the cardiac arrest . There seems to be a lot of interest with 20 registering interest so far .
At Barjarg we hope to get an extension so that we have a meeting room and a toilet . The brigade will have to find the money but it will be worth while .

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Practical Preparation, Positive Action, Pure Survival at Maindample

Media Release Mansfield Group: 14/12/2011

Tom Condon Media liaison Officer Hume Region

Ian Cheeseman, Captain of the Maindample Rural Fire Brigade proposed to the Shire of Mansfield at a recent Municipal Fire Prevention Committee meeting that the Brigade wished to do a burn off around the Maindample Township. Long grass, particularly along the rail trail, presented a real threat to the safety of residents and ‘rail trailers’.

An unqualified agreement to do so was given by the committee and a request to do so as quickly as possible.

Recent rains had provided extensive growth with much of the grass over 150cm high and with no stock now grazing the land due to the rail trail an enormous fuel load had built up.

Ian engaged the services of the shire, Barjarg Rural Fire Brigade, Bonnie Doon Rural Fire Brigade and a number of members with private ‘Slip on” vehicles to ensure the citizenry’s safety during the burn off.

For new Barjarg members it was an introduction to practical asset and people protection.

Set into action about 10 hectares were safely cleared in about 2 hours with no environmental damage as members protected some old trees in primarily grassland.

This activity really highlighted the benefits of Brigades proactively protecting the community. It is a positive side that brigades could well actively promote in the future.

Thanks Ian, three years of lobbying achieved your desire for a safer community.

You really embodied the Prepare, Act, Survive message of the CFA.

Tom Condon

CFA Media Relations Officer

CFA Hume Region

ID 7902661

Ph / Fax 03 57787726

EMail tom2734@bigpond.com

Group Exercise: Feed back and CPR Training

If you were involved in the Group Exercise and you would like to give some feedback click on the  comments section and have a say .

Do you think all CFA members should know basic CPR ? When I ask a member of the public what is  their expectation is of a CFA member  re . CPR  they think that basic CPR  would be a part of our training . Try asking a friend etc. see what they think .
 Make a comment please .

Group Exercise

It was great to see  a good roll up . There were some problems and the weather contributed to these . The Group would welcome comments  so go to the comments section and have your say . The organizers expect some negative feed back but that contributes to the discussion and a better outcome next time .

Media Release Mansfield Group: 27/11/2011

Tom Condon Media liaison Officer Hume Region

Grassfire training and saving lives

Many would consider the Mansfield Shire the base of the high country and think of mountains and forests. However all indications for 2011 fire season are that grassland fires will be our main concern. Think of the rich grassland of the Merrijig area and those around Lake Nillahcootie or Bonnie Doon to Yea. Rich beautiful grass is as “high as the elephants eye” and in a short time could become the recipe for disaster.

Mansfield Group CFA took all that into devising a training exercise on Sunday 27^th for all member brigades and two visiting brigades, Swanpool and Lima South and a private crew from Hancock Victorian Plantations, that involved the control of a large grass fire that had its origins near the Midland Link Rd. at Barjarg and quickly spread through the farmlands towards the Strathbogie Ranges.

The exercise was planned by Roger Coates and Sharron Jones of the Barjarg Brigade, Milton Taylor of Tolmie and John Valcich Group Training Officer.

Exercises were conducted in grassfire tactics, drafting to refill from a local dam. Fire overburn protection for crews and 4 wheel driving on local tracks.

Two strike teams were formed with Strike Team leaders being Mike Fisher from Boorolite and Stuart Evans from Bonnie Doon.

A simulated car accident on one road caused a call from assistance from the SES and required the use of the Jaws of Life to remove a trapped passenger.

Discovery of a crew member who appeared to be suffering a heart attack and without a discernable pulse or breathing required a trained CFA member to apply CPR to resuscitate him.

Mansfield Brigade member and local MICA Paramedic, Brett Cooper, then introduced all to the new Defibrillator that will be available through the Group Command Vehicle at future fire scenes. Brett Stressed that initial CPR (Coronary Pulmonary Resuscitation) is still the most important and immediate action to take in saving lives in this situation. Most Brigades now have trained CPR members and a comprehensive training program for the Defib is to commence.

CFA Regional Operations Manager, Stewart Kreltszheim, attended the exercise and stressed the necessary tactics to control fires are, Hit Hard and Fast, Give back constant Situation Reports to Divisional Command and Know your Communications Equipment and its local capabilities.

Divisional Command was located at Group Headquarters and was attended by Victoria Police who also stressed the need for constant Situation Reports to assist them in traffic and people management. Div. Com was being tested as all level 2 and parts of level 3 incident that will be run out of Mansfield Div. Com and this was an opportunity to test the system and give the people responsible for managing an emergency valued practice.

Div Com was able to track crews through its GPS tracking system, Spidertracks, provided by the Calvert Jones Trust. Mark Calvert-Jones was at Div. Com to observe the outcomes of their generous support.

Div Com would also be responsible in a real event for the issuing of Emergency Warnings through OSOM on the CFA website or Telephone Alerts (EA) and number of trained and authorized Information Officers are now available in the Mansfield Area.

The Exercise concluded with a great BBQ catered for by the ladies of the Barjarg Rural Fire Brigade.

Reminder Mansfield Shire fire restrictions are due to come into force on Sunday 5^th December 2011.

Tolmie Supports Targa

 Tolmie CFA spent time supporting the Targa Rally .The tanker is bigger and will go where some of the cars won't but the Tolmie crew wouldn't mind having either the Lamborgini or the Porsche to compliment the truck , they would certainly get on scene quickly !

HI all another reminder about the group exercise on the 27th Nov. some of the skills that will be assessed during the day are off road driving .hand tools. first aid. grass fire attack methods. Crew leader and Strike team leader skills. log keeping. and communications. Participants will also be able

to work with other agency's. This will be a good opportunity to see how well we work together and show areas were we can improve. Hope to see as many brigades as possible.

A level 2 Div Comm will also be stet up so members can practice their skills before the fire season is upon us.

John Valcich

Training , Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)

Last Sunday a small group participated in training to become familiar with an AED  . The unit used was the same as will shortly be placed in the Group Command vehicle .  More training sessions will be undertaken but even if you haven't been trained and there is an event which could require the use of the AED  you are expected to use it . You may wish to refresh your knowledge by going back to the  video which is on this site .The Group are grateful to Rod and Brett for giving up there time to assist with the training .

Training on New Radios

Due to the new radio roll out training is required for all members.

At this stage there is 3 sessions arranged to be held in Mansfield on the 24/10/11 at 1900hrs

Sunday the 6/11/11 at 1000hrs and on Tuesday 15/11/11 at 1900 hrs.

At Maindample 25/10/11 at 1930hrs.

Booroolite 6/11/11 at 1500hrs

Bonnie Doon 6/11/11 in morning

Barjarg 11/11/11 at 1830 hrs

Captains from other Brigades who wish to have a session at there station please contact John Valcich or Rob Gardiner asap.

The roll out for District 23 will begin an about 14/11/11

Group Training

Minimum Skills Training will start in Mansfield on Monday 7th of November any new member who wishes to become operational must attend. All currently trained members my also attend as part of their skills maintenance. See your Captain for course schedule or you can contact me on

0428 992 039.

The group exercise will be held on Sunday 4th December, we would like a full strike team plus one or two slip-on's so please let me know if you wish to attend. We will also have the Div Comm operational so any one endorsed as a Div Comm operator who would like to tack part let me know.

Chief Officer's Newsletter # 29

“Well done!” also, to SSO Greg Chapman, LFF Steve Brodie and FF Alex Batty from Hallam Station who arrived at a washaway to find a victim in cardiac arrest. They took over CPR from bystanders and used recently gained Emergency Management Response training to use their defibrillator to shock the patient twice to get his heart back into normal rhythm, followed by CPR until the arrival of a MICA unit. Their actions combined with the early intervention of a bystander performing CPR prior to their arrival have saved the patients life.

* This is extremely timely given the discussions re the purchase of a Defibrillator by the Mansfield Group.

Tak

Take C!