Between the two of them, Kinglake Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members Deb English and Kate Draffin have spent a combined 27 years volunteering in their local community.
Now enjoying retirement, Deb was nudged into community volunteering by a friend who was studying to become a doctor and was a CERT volunteer at the time, almost 20 years ago. For Kate, serving others is firmly etched in the family ethos.
“We have family involved with the State Emergency Service (SES) and Country Fire Authority (CFA), so just to be different, I went with [the] ambulance,” Kate said.
“At the time my kids were always getting injured, and I thought why not do something with skills that are useful in my day-to-day as a school nurse.”
As First Responders, CERTs support Ambulance Victoria’s (AV) emergency medical response in rural and remote communities.
Working in pairs, they are dispatched to time-critical emergencies at the same time as an ambulance; however, as local community members, they are often the first on the scene.
Though different paths led Kate and Deb to join Kinglake CERT, they both agree that helping people in their time of need makes volunteering a worthwhile and satisfying endeavour.
As with any emergency response, the cases are varied yet each call out presents a unique opportunity to display care, dignity and share human connection.
“We turn up at what is sometimes the worst time in people’s lives and it’s important to recognise our shared humanity – to find the point of connection or even humour in tough situations,” Deb said.
“Cardiac arrests are some of the most difficult jobs we attend. It provides some comfort to family when we can explain what’s going on, for them to know that we’ve done everything possible to keep their loved one with them.”
Recently, the pair was co-dispatched with paramedics to a woman who was bitten by a tiger snake on the sole of her foot.
As the first unit on scene, they assessed the patient who was showing early signs of envenomation and worked quickly to initiate snakebite first aid, including applying a pressure immobilisation bandage and providing a detailed situation report.
When paramedics arrived, all basic interventions had been effectively completed, enabling advanced care to begin without delay.
Whilst CERTs don’t normally transport patients, Kate and Deb also assisted with loading and transporting the patient to hospital – who has since recovered well.
This is just one of many cases that demonstrate the positive impact CERT members have on the health outcomes for patients right across the state.
“I don’t think a lot of people in Kinglake know how much we rely on the help of volunteers,” Deb said.
“You don’t need to have a medical background to become a CERT member because AV provide the training – you just need a passion for community.
“We do need more people to volunteer and support our communities, so I encourage everyone to give volunteering a go.”
This National Volunteer Week, Ambulance Victoria (AV) is recognising the efforts of all of our dedicated volunteers who help to provide the best care to Victorians every day.
More information on CERT membership can be found on the AV website.
