Paramedics receive training
Durban's Netcare 911 paramedics went for training last week to learn more about how to care for patients.
NETCARE 911 paramedics from KZN, their rescue officer and three rescue officers from Gauteng spent a day last week doing training at 15 Squadron.
They arrived at the air force base at 8am and after a short de-briefing, started with firstly hoisting two people at a time using a strop system. After that they had to secure a patient into a stokes basket and then hoist them with the medic up to the helicopter.
As the day progressed, they flew to the Shongweni area where they hoisted people up and down at the waterfall next to the N3. With a very skilled pilot and engineer, they trained the paramedical staff to get out of the helicopter while it is hovering at a steep slope.
The training lasted until 2pm and then the pilot flew to the Umhlanga hospital where he demonstrated his skill in a simulation of bringing in a patient from the mountains. “We then flew back to the air force base where a thorough de-briefing was held. It is a great relief to know that we have such a skilled team that can be deployed day or night to rescue people from otherwise inaccessible areas or from ships far out to sea,” said Chris Botha from Netcare 911.
