SA Firefighter

Not to mention they self respond to calls in other brigade areas

Theres a MAJOR difference to responding to an incident at initial report, and inserting yourself into a known, going incident.

Even ambos, who have strict dispatch protocols would self respond to incidents reported to them.

Quote from: Darius on February 18, 2013, 09:35:07 AM
I too think it's pretty poor given the activity across quite a bit of the state since friday.

Matt and Dave (891) had a local pollie (think it was Michael Pengilly, member for Finiss) on the radio this morning claiming he had media organisations calling his office for info as they couldn't get hold of anyone from CFS Media over the weekend.

I find that a little hard to beleive. There are after hours media officers for MFS, CFS & SES (1 each) all with the same access to CRIIMSON, and they all work out of the same office, so I cant see why 1 wouldnt fill a hole if need be.

Quote from: Alan (Big Al) on February 14, 2013, 08:07:33 PM
They asked the IC of the job if they were required for assistance and they were asked to respond so they did..
Why should they get in the filtered?

Because it is NOT the way the system is meant to work. If the IC needed them he should have made the appropriate request through Adelaide Fire.

By them basically inserting themselves into the job, they have effectively self responded. IMT / Region who are trying to manage the job would have no idea they are even out there. This is the sort of bull filtered that creates issues such as firefighters not getting fed, because catering is suddenly 5-10 meals short. Not to mention if there was another job that needed the 24, and it's not there because it hasnt been booked off accordingly (dont know if they did book off or not).

But I think the donkey whooping might refer more to the pager message itself. Someone is going to get the Chief Officers size 11 firmly implanted in their gluteus maximus for that one.

Quote from: misterteddy on February 13, 2013, 07:43:15 PM

Quote
I kinda have a sneaking suspiscion this might have come out of MFS Media, so I'm not sure in this instance that we can blame the Tiser cadet journos

The Tiser is now employing qualified journos (albeit cadets)....when did they start that? Cant say I have noticed an improvement in quality

But Region 2 HQ are forced to stay in a building for another 3 years that they have totally outgrown and is now barely functional.

Try getting in there on a busy day when you have SAPOL, SAAS, Council, MFS all in there as well!

Not to mention poor storage facilities for the vehicles they have and no vehicle security.

teddy - why dont you go speak to your CFSVA rep, thats what they are there for. I KNOW they have fought hard for the 25kph limit (which has been approved and is going through the legislation process), are currently taking on the massive fight to have CFS volunteers recognised with the new legislation protecting paid firefighters with certain cancers. Fighting for a better slice of the funding pie, and are currently preparing a very large submission to the current Parliamentary review of the CFS that is about to kick into gear.

I found all that out, plus a few other tid bits, by speaking to my rep. The CFSVA is here to represent us, but if people dont engage with them, who is to blame?

I **KNOW** first hand just what is happening with the exec. Just because they arent in the media doesnt mean they are not fighting for the volunteer cause.

Quote from: Alan (Big Al) on January 22, 2013, 07:56:20 PM
At least MFS are being responded to them because it seems Virginia want nothing to do with them unless they are a "proper" job.  I know we are a vollie organisation but if its in your area you should still be dealing with these calls and if you cant then maybe its time to give it up?

Ummm...what are you basing that on?? The amount of stop calls that are issued? This is because MFS get there, and determine there is no need for extra trucks.

Those with issues with SACAD data not being updated when you have requested. Have you thought about letting the CFSVA know so they can also follow up on your behalf? We have a much more active exec in the VA these days who are willing to take up the fight when it's justified.

Just a thought.

Quote from: Alex on January 03, 2013, 02:46:15 PM
MLR, KI & LSE only have to hit 100 to make catastrophic due to high levels of forestry.

The FFDI has a trigger of 100 for Catastrophic. GFDI is still 150 for MLR as the trigger.

I think the fires that are going totally unnoticed are in NT.

Exactly same place as where the first strike team last year worked (Kings Canyon) with reports in the media yesterday stating that Kings Canyon Resort and the ranger station both being extensively damaged, with initial damage assessment only being able to be done from the air, as crews cant get in.

I reckon that would be the first nod for SA, given the lack of resources NT has.

RESPOND FLOODING SALVAGE P2 XXX BROWN ST WILLASTON MAP:ADL 23 K 5,CALLER:XXXXXXX ==HOUSE UNDER THREAT FROM RAW SEWERAGE COUNCIL AND SA WATER NOTIFIED


Gonna be a sh!tty job.......at least the street name is an apt one!!  :-D


Bring on the toilet humour.....

Granted, checking out at staging is not going to get everything checked.

But, hopefully, with lessons learned, we will be able to start acknowledging things like you have mentioned (dust in equipment, failing hydraulics etc) would be something that can be looked at.

It is a pity though that there are people who have attitudes of "not my truck, so i dont care".....it affects us all in the long run!

Dont think I said that Alex.

But it WILL ensure that the brigade doesnt pay for it. There will come a point when a brigade goes to region to get something repaired / replaced from a job, and they will be denied, as there is no green t-card to show that the damage / loss occurred on the job.

I know in my Region all active staging managers (myself included) are insisting on green t-cards being done. However, we will also refuse to sign off on anything that is obviously not job related (ie, try and tell me that you lost a set of spreaders on a grass fire, and I'm not signing off on it!).

So many people think that T-Cards and resource tracking is a pain in the proverbial, but it is all done for a reason.

I agree some Brigades take pride in their appliances.

Unfortunately for my brigade, we dont get brand new cars, we only get hand me downs, but we spend a lot of time and energy in maintaining them, only to have them lent out to other brigades who dont care for them.

However, the damage / missing gear issue is so easily resolved through the green T-Card. It would be interesting to see how many brigades decide to actually start doing the right thing if Region's started saying they wont book off gear / damage to a job if there is no green card done. I guess T-Cards could be a thread all on it's own......

Quote from: Alan (Big Al) on November 30, 2012, 08:14:11 PM
from what one of our members saw apparently some took joy in carving up others appliances.. sure they get superficial damage but seriously alot of it can be avoided with treating equipment with a little respect.

HAPPY VALLEY *INFO* HV 34P OFF LINE....US NOT TO BE USED CAPT:( - H/V STATION

And they wonder why some brigades are reluctant to let their appliances go on these strike teams, sure its a CFS truck and you dont really have a choice but really who would like to see something they take pride in come back from a job in the state some of these appliances are in.

Whats makes it "their" appliance? I believe the logo on the door says CFS, not an individual brigade. Areas such as west coast it is always going to be a case of they have to bring in extra trucks, and change the crews on those trucks. If the crew who took it out of staging to return home did not check the truck, and note any issues on the green check out T card (gasp! yes, T-Cards actually have a purpose), then it is the Brigade's fault for not ensuring their personnel do the right thing at staging. I get quite tired of asking, as a SAM, for crews T cards when they come into staging. The amount of times I have been looked at like I am an alien from the planet HFYVOIFCJOBJOK asking to be taken to their leader is laughable.

Looks like I've been trapped under the bridge too, but couldnt let this go.....

Quote from: kellyp on November 10, 2012, 08:41:08 AM
Hi Pip and SBA,

Don't worry about falling into a troll trap as I do not apply such things. Just constructive criticism that may some professionals who spend time trolling through universities at taxpayers expense proving that they are good at study.

RDNS might well be a NFP group contracted by government. So what is the problem for them getting some payment for each callout. They are DEGREE and Nationally registered whereas Paramedics are not.

Ummm...wrong. Have you not heard of the Bachelor of Human Sciences (Ambulance) that has been run out of Flinders University for a number of years now??? People who do a 3 year degree with no guarantee of a paramedic job at the end of it. At least a nursing degree pretty much guarantees a job.

QuoteSorry about Gambier not having Vollies, maybe you should look into that and get it sorted.

It's not a matter of the community just going to SAAS and demanding a vehicle and training for a volunteer crew.

QuoteSAAS is part of the emergency sector as is police and the fire department. So why don't we train up the police to do exactly what ECP's do considering they are all part of SA Health in one form or another.

SAPOL MFS, CFS and SES as emergency services are part of SA Health????  WTF?????? Seriously, what are you smoking to even think, let alone believe this. They may work with SA Health departments in some cases, but they are NOT under the SA Health banner in any way.


ECP's attending Acute cases of low acuity (changing a bandaid perhaps) appears to be overkill for their skills training don't you think.

Paragraph 3 really tells the story somewhat of ECP's doing what they should not be doing as this is Registered Nurses and Doctors area and the SA Government should really spend OUR taxpayers monies on providing funds to the professionals in this area, not paramedic's (and there are some fabulous ones) who by their own desire became paramedics to specialise in the emergency field.   

I do not think for one minute that this is beyond 1st aid as previously mentioned in other posts. Vollies can be trained (except in Gambier) and provided with appropiate vehicles and equipment to attend and if an ambulance is required then they will call it in.
Or, the SA Health could use taxpayers funds to pay for registered nurses who would call it in if an ambulance is required also.

QuoteIt is wrong to suggest that RDNS wouldn't get out of bed to attend, they are after all professionals and their duty of care extends far and wide.

Have you ever tried to book a RDNS??  Last time I tried, there was about a 6 week waiting list. Do you really want anyone who has something like a blcked catheter to wait 6 weeks to get it done? Or should they go and further congest the rapidly decreasing GP office Or clog up an already over worked public health system?? Or heavens forbid, let us have an extension to an emergency service that already exists with highly qualified people who are already set up to provide an instant respone to these sorts of health issues.

Paramedics are health professionals (in a positively different field).
I'd like to see these same professionals working in an emergency department.
It appears that the lights and siren saga once again raises an issue. No one ever mentioned the need for these (especially for low acuity cases).

Most ECP jobs are dispatched as P4, P5 type cases. ECP vehicles are normally marked vehicles, but with covert lighting, as they are still used to first respond to P1 and P2 jobs if they happen to be the closest resource.


You seem to really have an issue with SAAS kelly.

MFS: *CFSRES INC0059 19/10/12 13:07 RESPOND VEHICLE FIRE, PORT WAKEFIELD RD BOLIVAR,MAP:ADL 70 B 5,TG 182, == 200 KM SOUTH OF WHITEHORSE INN, ON OUTBOUND LANE


Bit of a drive....though most appropriate resource would have been at least ERV071, if not perhaps some oil tanker going through the Southern Ocean??

I would suggest the $15k goes on travel, accomodation, food, medical supplies, vehicle costs etc. Just a thought.

Teddy, I used to be a member, and was involved in logistical planning of major events, so have some idea. Cadets in the camp is different to the official events, as the camp would not be a licensed venue.

Thats a really disparaging, and ill-informed comment Teddy.

Cadet's are not allowed at schoolies due to the nature of the event, and the fact most of the locations are licensed premises.

St John have an extensive network of medical professionals working at schoolies (and most other major events) including paramedics, nurses and doctors.

I really think that fellow volunteers should be supporting each other, not trying to drag another organisation down.

And no, I am not a member.

Maybe LT2 was the duty officer for the brigade, so ack'ed the page (which makes sense). Maybe something came up in his family life (remember that thing), which meant he was unable to respond to the actual job.

I really dont know why we are even talking about it!

Quote from: Bagyassfirey on August 31, 2012, 06:34:11 PM
31-08-12 10:22:44   15 people did not respond to ANtons page asking for everyones pager no. If you are one do it now. NOT in a while F-N-NOW. Text to ******* Signed LT3 - CFS Waikerie Info


I wouldn't have thought any issue involving volunteers deserves a pager message like that.

My first response would have been throwing my pager at the LT3's head, followed by my crew bag, with my letter of "get f***ed and jam it" in there. I surely hope this is being dealt with appropriately.


Totaly uncalled for, especially in areas where they are REALLY struggling for volunteers. Maybe it was an outgoing LT with some sour grapes?

Quote from: excelcare on August 29, 2012, 02:32:35 PM

Quote from: misterteddy on July 30, 2012, 10:21:16 PM
yes everything that is old is new again.....one of these days we will go back to Red and Green...lol

Priority 3 has been reintroduced to cut down on the higher accuity non emerg jobs that were either waiting up to an hr (pri 4) or being uncecessarily upgraded to emerg status (Pri 2) because the lower priority time wasnt appropriate. Shouldnt really be a surprise what system would ever survive 1-2, then 4 on...leaving 3 missing...lol

Mr Teddy,
you are beginning to show your age. That terminology has not been used since my father was a country ambo in the early to mid 70s lol. P3 is the old Cat 2B from just about 5 years isn't it?  :-)

Hmm...I remember transporting to hospital with red and green stretchers (or sitters)...and that was late 80's!!

I beleive the Regional Officer position applicants are receiving letters this week. 16 spots up for grabs.