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.