SES 30th Anniversary - Sunday 12th June 2005

12th June 2005

I attended the 30th Anniversary of the State Emergency Services (SES) competitions and events - at Whyte Island's Combined Emergency Services Academy, formly known as the Fire & Rescue Academy which was opened 25th October 2001.

There are approximately 14,000 SES volunteers statewide who assist their communities in a wide variety of tasks, such as land search,flood and storm damage operations and traffic control.

Todays events and competitions covered a range of all of these (these were all staged simulations with scernios!!)

**MASS CASUALTY RESCUE
A simulation of a 3 storey building collapse after an earthquake (note the patients laying around with fake blood!)

** RESCUE FROM HEIGHT
At the top of an industrail building there was a patient who had fallen from a ladder.

**HEAVY LIFT
Extrication of a patient from a tank where a concrete block had them trapped. (this involved a manequin)

** RESTRICTED SPACE SEARCH & RESCUE
An injury inside a disused cement mixer.

** ENDURANCE
Emptying buckets into a storage tank, and filling sandbags.

With the following SES in attendance:-
Townsville / Thuringowa
Atherton
Whitsunday
Caloundra
Goodna

There were also some displays, Jason Cooper with his Britax light display, Corey Harvey with his patches, and afew other displays.

Many thanks to Corey, Jason and Yvonne on the day and to Matt for the initial heads up of the competitions.

Make sure you stop and visit the SES site as well (cut & paste into your browser)
www.emergency.qld.gov.au/ses

Here is alittle more information about the SES.

In 1975, the State Government established the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES). This Service evolved from the former Queensland Civil Defence Organisation that had been in operation since 1961.

The SES is a volunteer based organisation that is designed to empower people to help themselves and others in their community in times of emergency and disaster.

The basic concept of the SES is one of self help and mutual assistance within each community. Maximum use is made of existing resources which are in day to day use within each community to reinforce the resources of statutory services in times of disaster and emergency.

This concept involves the community in all aspects of disaster and emergency activity including prevention, preparation, response and recovery measures that will help protect the community when disaster strikes.

The primary functions of the SES are:

* To advise and assist Local Government, Government Departments, statutory organisations, voluntary groups and other bodies;
* To educate and train members of the public (including volunteers and members of voluntary groups);
* To coordinate, direct and control members of the public (including volunteers and members of voluntary groups), material and resources, with respect to counter disaster purposes.

The SES also has the following emergency related functions:
* To carry out rescue or similar operations in an emergency situation;
* To carry out search operations in an emergency or other situation;
* To carry out other operations in an emergency situation to -
* Help injured persons; or
Protect persons or property from danger or potential danger associated with the emergency situation.

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