PARAMEDICS ON MOTORCYCLES IN VICTORIA

THE HERALD SUN

LETTERS

OUR AMBOS are sick of sooks (HS 29/10/2011). An ambulance and crew attending a woman with a finger stuck in a container or a man with an itchy tongue is a dangerous waste of resources.

A paramedic on a motorcycle can respond to a call quicker and assess the need for a full-size ambulance to attend.

Motorcycle paramedics can also get to medical emergencies through traffic jams to stabilise victims until an ambulance can get through.

Damien Codognotto OAM

Independent Riders' Group

Melbourne

THE HERALD SUN

LETTERS

They save lives in the US, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. They do it in Sydney and Adelaide. Now Melbourne will have paramedics on motorcycles too.

500cc scooters can penetrate traffic jams and move safely through crowds at major events carrying a full payload of life-saving gear. Medics on scooters will reduce ambulance response times. The riders will assess incidents and false alarms allowing full-size ambulances and crews to concentrate on serious cases. A better use of resources in a stretched system.

With a motorcycle paramedic stabilizing a victim and giving vital information on conditions at the scene, the ambulance crew can travel safer and arrive prepared. That's got to be better for everyone.

A very good move Victoria.

Damien Codognotto OAM

Independent Riders' Group

Melbourne

THE SUNDAY HERALD SUN
LETTERS

MEDICS  ON  MOTOR SCOOTERS! (SHS OCT 30, 2011) Brilliant! A better use of resources to help our stretched ambulance service.

The  idea  isn't  new.  The  UK,  US,  Hong  Kong  and  Singapore have paramedics on motorcycles. So do Sydney and Adelaide. These  riders  carry  a full payload of life-saving gear. They can get safely  through  crowds  at  major  events  and  can penetrate traffic congestion in an emergency as no 4-wheeler can. 

Bike  paramedics will assess a scene and let base know how serious the call  is.  This allows full-size ambulance crews to avoid false alarms and  prioritise  cases.  Crews can travel safer and be better prepared when they arrive.

With  our jammed roads and big crowds, paramedics on motor scooters is a very, very good move.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne