Paihia St John, firefighters hone rescue skills

St John cadet Kieran North, of Kerikeri, acts the part of an injured diver in a three-car pile-up. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

Paihia firefighters and St John volunteers have been called to a series of mock accidents aimed at sharpening their skills and improving co-operation between the services.

One of Tuesday night's scenarios involved a three-car pile-up on Hawke Drive in Haruru Falls with one dead and four seriously injured.

St John volunteers prioritised and treated patients according to the severity of their injuries, while firefighters practised using cutting equipment and hydraulic rams to free trapped patients.

At the same time another group of medics dealt with two badly injured riders in Waitangi Mountain Bike Park.

Organiser Denise van Rooyen, of Paihia St John, said up to 14 volunteers had taken part in the scenarios every Tuesday night for three weeks.

The training nights had great support from the public, including a local tow truck driver who had provided the wrecks and put them into position. St John cadets had played the part of the bloodied and distressed patients.

Mrs van Rooyen she hoped it would encourage more people to join St John with Paihia needing "loads more" volunteers.

Nick Scott, St John Kerikeri operations manager, said one of the aims was to improve communication between the services. In an emergency it was easy to become immersed in one's own role but talking to others and establishing priorities was vital.

Firefighters had the skills and tools to extract people from a wreck but medics knew which ones had to be treated first. The patients that looked the worst weren't always the ones that needed help most urgently, he said.

■ If you are keen to sign up with St John as a volunteer go to www.stjohn.org.nz and click on 'Join St John'.