Local Ambulance Committee Make A Generous Presentation
LAC members Jenny Miller, Phil Heron, Rod Jordan, Shirley McLean, Caroline Taylor, Cherie Mason with Queensland Ambulance district director Robert Cornthwaite, paramedic Steve Groves and Craig Ainsworth – and, of course, the brand new Razer Lift Chair.
Most of us that live within the Cooloola Coast would be aware of the wonderful work done by the members of the Local Ambulance Committee (LAC).
The committee was set up back in the 1980s when Tin Can Bay was a one-man station to help raise the much needed funds to keep the station running. At the time the Rainbow Beach station didn’t exist. Fast forward forty plus years and Rainbow Beach now has its own state-of-the-art ambulance station.
The LAC recently made a significant presentation to the Rainbow Beach paramedics by way of a ‘lift assist chair’.
The Razer Chair is designed to aid in lifting non-injured patients if they have fallen in the shower for example. Battery operated, the chair can be built around the fallen person to help raise them to almost a standing position within minutes. Before using the Razer Lift Chair the paramedics would assess the fallen person to make sure that they were not suffering any significant injuries from their fall.
“The chair not only assists the patient but also aids the ambulance officer” said Queensland Ambulance paramedic Steve Groves, “It is so much easier on the bodies of our team”..
Many injuries occur to first responders when lifting patients into a sitting or standing position, things like torn muscles and ligaments not to mention severe neck or back injuries.
Carolyn Taylor from the LAC said that the funds that enabled the group to be able to purchase the chairs came from raffles, bingo, donations, and of course the Local Ambulance Flower Show which is held each year in September.
On hand to make the presentation and to witness a demonstration of the new chair were members of the LAC along with Director of the District for Queensland Ambulance Robert Cornthwaite who had travelled from Caloundra to be present.
Mr Cornthwaite presented the Razer Lift Chair to Rainbow Beach paramedic Craig Anisworth. He thanked the community and in particular the work of the LAC in making the presentation possible
At the cost of $5,500 each the chair is a great investment for the station. The LAC was able to purchase a second chair for the Tin Can Bay Station bringing the total donation to a cost of $11,00.
by Jenni Jackson
