scone.com.auDon’t Hesitate to Call
AS a former tradie, local paramedic, Mark Bell is able to give advice based on experience about drills through hands, falling of rooves and the many hazards in a shed.
But today at the Upper Hunter Men’s Shed in Scone amongst talk of cars and serious shed business he stressed the importance of not hesitating to call on local ambulance no matter what the time.
“If you are unwell, don’t delay calling us, we don’t mind if it is 2am in the morning, we’d rather come and see you and if you are suffering from reflux and not a heart attack that makes us happy,” said Mr Bell.
“Often people think chest pain might be that they’ve just twisted something, or they might not even have chest pain they might have symptoms like a sore arm, pain in the abdomen, or just feel really unwell, but if we can get their early we can detect a heart attack and begin treatment straight away,”
Local ambulance are equipped with a portable echocardiogram (ECG) machine and can send results straight to a cardiologist for assessment.
If it is determined the patient is suffering a heart attack the paramedics can administer medications immediately to clear any clots in the heart and then take the patient directly t the John Hunter or call the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
“Minutes really count with heart attacks and stroke and we have the skills and equipment to start treatment in your lounge room instead of trying to make your won way to hospital,” he said.
“Don’t think ‘I don’t want to bother the local ambulance’ we want you to call us and if it’s not serious that is the outcome we all want,” he said.
“You know you’re own body and you know if something doesn’t feel right, so call us,” he said.
The local Men’s Shed also have a defibrillator, known as a Packer wacker, which the men were encouraged to use.
“Don’t be frightened to use this,” said Mr Bell.
“It is quite amazing to see someone not breathing and you press the button and bang, they are back,” he said.
“It takes us time to get here and the best thing you can do is use this immediately, it can make all the difference,” he said.
Parmedic Mark Bell with Upper Hunter Men’s Shed president Greg Newling.
John Pratley a member of the Shed quipped, “The only reason it won’t work is it we leave it hanging on the wall.”
Mr Bell also encouraged the men to stay hydrated during summer as they see many people passing out during the hot weather and it can impact on people’s hearts.
The group then started comparing the ambulance vehicle to former models….so scone.com.au left them to it.
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