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Intensive Care Paramedics

The flight paramedics (Intensive Care Paramedics) are responsible for the pre-hospital care of a patient before and during the flight. The Intensive Care Paramedics are trained to carry out stretcher and strop winching, which means they can rescue people on land or at sea. The Snowy Hydro SouthCare Intensive Care Paramedics form an extremely important part of the team and usually have the highest amount of interaction with patients.

 

ACT Ambulance Service Intensive Care Paramedics that work with Snowy Hydro SouthCare include:

 

  • Mick Abigail
  • Michelle Blewitt
  • Jill Blomeley
  • Pat Cotter
  • Ian Crossley
  • Paul Hardie 
  • Paul Hitchman
  • Justin Hockley
  • Grant Hogan
  • Kirsten Keightley
  • Ben Lynch
  • Phil McHugh
  • Damon Relf
  • Trevor Stohr
  • Jim Tierney
  • Karen Yanik

           

 

Intensive Care Paramedic Profile: Ben Lynch

How long have you been a Paramedic?

I have been a Paramedic for 10 short years.

When you start working as an Intensive Care Paramedic on the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter?

I began on the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter following completion of the ACT Ambulance Service Aero Medical Rescue and Retrieval Course 4, in April/ May 2009.

What is it like working/flying in the helicopter?

Flying in the helicopter presents many unique challenges both operational and clinical. The role of a flight paramedic differs greatly from that of a road paramedic in that missions need to be planned for in greater detail and patients are pre packaged ensuring that all possible eventuality’s are anticipated. Life inside the aircraft differs from that on a conventional flight. The cabin is cramped, hot in summer, cold in winter, noisy with vibrations, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Seeing the countryside from the air is great we have some of the best scenery in the country around this region.

What is your most memorable mission?

I can’t say that there is any particular mission that stands out above the rest. They are all memorable in their own right. The looks on the faces on the patients, family members and other health professionals in the region when we arrive to assist are some of the moments that are hard to forget.

You were recently awarded a Unit Citation (pictured) for the courage you displayed at the East Lynne accident in 2009. How did this mission compare to other accidents you have attended? 

The Unit Citation I was awarded along with Dr Andrew Singer came as somewhat of an embarrassment. Every single day we have Flight Paramedics and Doctors on hand to look after patients who are critically ill. The Unit Citation may well have had my name on it but that was an award more for the service than for myself as an individual. The mission to East Lynne in 2009 was not typical of other Southcare missions I have attended, in that this was a scene of utter devastation. The size of the incident scene was what first struck me. We had wrecked vehicles all over the place and a fuel tanker in a gully that was still burning. One thing that did remain the same however was the teamwork we see constantly throughout our travels, especially with the Ambulance Service NSW crews on the ground. Everyone involved was working their hardest to look after those whom were injured, we as the helicopter service simply became part of that team.