ST John Ambulance WA has urged people to “do their bit” to help ambulance services this Easter break.
Ambulance service director Anthony Smith said the four-day long weekend was a great time for families to head off for a break and enjoy time together in a different surrounding but stressed preparation was essential in case things don’t go according to plan.
“We often think about things like what clothes and food supplies we need if we’re going camping but emergency situations are not necessarily in the forefronts of our minds,” he said.
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READ NOW“Experience has shown the ambulance service that holidays can be ruined and that doesn’t have to be the case if people can do a few simple things before they set off.”
Easter is a busy time for the ambulance service with 2100 emergency calls attended to by ambulance crews during the four-day break last year.
Mr Smith advised people to at least carry a well-stocked first-aid kit and have current first-aid skills before travelling.
St John will again look out for people across the state during Easter, with a full contingent of crews including two RAC rescue choppers available if needed.
“Our people and systems are very adept at responding to an emergency, in any corner of the state,” he said.
Mr Smith recommended downloading the St John first responder smart phone app, which provides an exact location to crews, which would be incredibly helpful in remote areas.
St John Ambulance WA tips to ensure a safe Easter
– Download the St John first responder app. The app will guide you to publically accessible defibrillators and provide your exact location to St John when you call 000 – Carry a personal locator beacon (Epirb) or satellite phone if you are going to a remote location – Travel with your medications (including EpiPens) – Know the area you are travelling to (take maps and note local landmarks) – If travelling alone, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return
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