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Policy
G2-1 POP
Emergency medical support
Introduction
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to describe the requirements for providing
emergency medical support to Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel or
1982
members of the public.
Contents
This policy contains the following content:
Act
About this policy
Emergency medical support
Related information
About this policy
When to use
Fire and Emergency personnel will follow the requirements of this policy when in
our workplaces, on duty, or while undertaking any response duties.
Information
Policy objectives
This policy aims to support Fire and Emergency personnel and set in place the
actions they should take when our people, or members of the public, need
emergency medical assistance.
Policy
When the injured or unwell person is a member of Fire and Emergency, the
requirements
person in charge of the workplace is responsible for ensuring:
Official
• emergency medical support is provided, (e.g. first aid), see Definitions
• relevant people and agencies are notified
•
the
any required reporting is completed. See
Report workplace safety, health or
wellbeing event
• the injured or unwell person is transported safely home or to a medical
provider or hospital as needed
• any relevant leave or workplace cover requirements are actioned.
under
Definitions
Emergency medical support means:
• first aid
• visit to a doctor or other relevant health professional
• an ambulance.
Decontamination means:
Any decontamination where the OIC considers that those being decontaminated
Released may need medical assistance, or medical assessment. This will generally not
include post-fire decontamination unless deemed necessary for any reason by the
OIC
18 March 2021
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Policy - Emergency medical support
Emergency medical support
First aid
First aid provided should follow the guidance
in G2 TM First aid technical manual.
Note: First aid should only be administered by a trained first aider, unless there is
no other option.
First aid provided in the operational environment is covered by th
e G2 POP
Operational first aid policy
Notifications
When the injured or unwell person is a member of Fire and Emergency, the
1982
person in charge of the workplace is responsible for:
• Completing any required reporting. See
Report workplace safety, health or
wellbeing event
Act
• Making sure the patient’s emergency contact person is contacted.
• Notifying their workplace manager
• If the person has an operational role, notifying ComCen so senior officer
notifications can occur.
Note: If the situation involves serious injury or significant harm, notifications will
include WorkSafe New Zealand or another external agency. Se
e Notifiable injury,
illness or incidents guide
Incident-related
During an incident, the Officer in Charge (OIC)/Incident Controller (IC) is
Information
requirements
responsible for leading these actions.
If…
Responsibilities,
Emergency medical support is
OIC/IC ensures:
required for:
• first aid is administered
• Fire and Emergency personnel • ComCen are advised to:
Official
• the public
o request ambulance response if further
treatment is required
o make required notifications from ComCen
the
SOPs
there are persons reported
OIC/IC notifies ComCen, who then action
notifications to:
• ambulance, who will attend until all persons
are accounted for
under
• senior officers as required by ComCen SOPs
the incident is 3rd alarm or
ComCen will notify ambulance and request a
higher
standby attendance
Note: If there are injuries, the OIC/ IC must request
an ambulance response as stated above
the incident is lower than 3rd
the OIC/IC will advise ComCen to notify ambulance
alarm, and the IC considers there
and request a standby attendance
is a significant risk of injury
Released decontamination (see definitions) the OIC/IC will advise ComCen to request
is required on people wearing:
ambulance response.
• no PPE
• level 1 or 2 PPE
• compromised level 3 or 4 PPE
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Policy - Emergency medical support
Concussion
If there is any possibility of a concussion (witnessed or not), arrange for an early
protocols
medical assessment.
Indications of a concussion may include any level of being dazed, confused,
unsteady or disoriented following an impact to the head.
Anyone who loses consciousness after an impact to the head (even if brief) has a
concussion.
A concussion can acutely affect physical capacity, such as balance and
coordination as well as causing temporary cognitive symptoms affecting decision-
making. Because this will cause a level of impairment, the OIC/IC or person in
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charge of the workplace is responsible for leading the actions listed:
The injured person:
Act
• shall not continue in any safety critical role
• shall stand down and seek a medical assessment at the earliest opportunity
(including a request for an ambulance response to an incident ground)
• shall always be accompanied and not drive a vehicle until a full concussion
assessment has been done and they have been cleared.
Additional actions
If the injured person leaves the workplace, they should be accompanied by a
colleague or manager, where practicable.
• If taken to hospital this may be until handover to the emergency contact
person, or until they are discharged and returned home.
Information
• If going home, ensure they have travel home provided (including for their
vehicle).
Related information
Official
Procedure
Report workplace safety, health or wellbeing event
the
Policies
G2 POP Operational first aid
Guide
Notifiable injury, illness or incidents guide
under
G2 TM First aid technical manual
Released
18 March 2021
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Policy - Emergency medical support
Document information
Owner
National Manager Response Capability
Steward
Specialist Response Manager
Last reviewed
26 November 2020
Review period
Every second year
Record of amendments
Date
Brief description of amendment
1982
March 2021
Definition for decontamination added for clarity, no approval required
November 2020
Information about concussion protocols added, some content tidy up for clarity Act
November 2019
New template, updated for Fire and Emergency, some content tidy up to avoid repetition
May 2012
Initial version
Information
Official
the
under
Released
18 March 2021
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