DIRECTORS MESSAGE  Keith McReynolds

It has been a busy start to March for the RSS team with several courses and programs being delivered around the country. A big thanks to our Outdoor Education team who have been extremely busy with our school-based clients kicking off their OE programs for 2017. Our Outdoor Education services underwent a review early this year with the main aim of streamlining our OE process and develop ways in how we can better communicate to and gather information about participants attending our staffed expeditions. From this, several strategies have been developed and we are well on our way with their implementation.  Lizzy Riley is also currently working closely with Crestwood High School in an exciting new partnership where RSS is now assisting its OE clients not only in the delivery of the school’s expeditions but also in the administration task involved in the running the programs (including school-based Outdoor Recreation and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award). I’ve also been working on the development of a new remote area first aid course designed for individuals, family and workers who spend time on the road traveling our stunning country in their 4WDs. The development of this course is now complete and I’m looking forward to the first course being delivered early April in Wagga Wagga. RSS has a fantastic working relationship with Wagga Wagga 4WD club and it will be great to get back down there and deliver this realistic, hands-on course to a number of their members.

COURSE SNAPSHOT Department of Primary Industries – Remote Area First Aid Courses.

Since December last year, RSS has been working with key individuals from the Department of Primary Industries in the roll-out of a contextualised remote area first aid course for its field staff. With courses being run in Narrandera, Tailor Beach and discussions for Dubbo in the near future, close to 50 staff have had the opportunity to undertake this course to aid in increasing their safety margins and provide staff the knowledge and skills to, identify, communicate and control remote area emergencies as well as treat, insulate, monitor and, if required, evacuate the injured. The learners gained this crucial knowledge and skills via direct involvement in emergency scenarios which were created from identifying a number of situations that the DPI field staff may encounter while in remote locations. These scenarios including multiple vehicle accidents, trailer and boat unloading / loading accidents on step river banks, envenomation, wild feral animal bites, crush injuries from falling heavy equipment, boat accidents and high voltage emergency with research boats (just to name a few). All the scenarios were run in the field utilising the same equipment that the staff would be operating or working with to aid in the simulation and create realism in the emergency scenario. Thank you to key DPI staff who have aided in driving the implementation of this course- RSS appreciates your support.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION SNAPSHOT Pittwater High School – Duke of Edinburghs Award Bronze Expedition

Pittwater High school has been offering the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award under the direction of the school’s Award Unit Leader Luke Trout for the last couple of years, and this year under Luke’s supervision has seen numbers and interest grow. RSS has been aiding Luke in the staffing of the student’s expeditions by placing highly experienced  and industry qualified outdoor educators and guides on the school’s program. Our staffing solutions program allows schools such as Pittwater High School to still manage and coordinate Outdoor Education programs in-house but increase their safety margins by having experienced and qualified staff in the field with the students. Having professional Outdoor Educators in the field working with the students aids in assisting the delivery of the school’s core social, leadership and decision making outcomes via immersion in outdoor-based activates and games while on program.

Last week saw the RSS Guides in the field for a 2-day program where the students from Pittwater undertook their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition at Dhurag National Park, NSW. The program area is 90% off track which really aids in setting a strong foundation in navigation and route selection. With the large amount of rain the area has seen over the past few months, the vegetation is quite thick and teamwork, navigation and communication skills were requiredto ensure the groups kept together and successfully navigate the thicker sections. The weather was on the warmer side with high humidity so water consumption was a key element that was monitored by the group to ensure that everyone was hydrated and had enough levels to complete the program.  There were some great outcomes  with the student returning to camp tired and exhausted but feeling that they had achieved something great. Well done to the students and thanks to Josh Armstead (RSS Lead Guide) for a great program.

REMOTE AREA FIRST AID 4WDers First Aid Course

Over the past few years RSS has had the pleasure of with working members from the Wagga Wagga 4WD Club. Wagga Wagga 4WD club has hosted the RSS team at their training grounds just to the east of Wagga a handful of times, allowing us to run courses for both members and non-members from the local community.  With some great feedback and support from key members, RSS is excited to announce that we have completed the development and are now in the rollout stage of a new course that will change the way you think when you head out bush in your 4WD. This course will give you the confidence and skill to manage a range of emergencies while in remote locations.

There’s no need to head bush and have that nagging question in the back of your brain saying “what would I do if some gets injured or hurt”

Learners who undertake this course will be exposed to many realistic lifelike emergency scenarios which aid in the delivery of course material. Learners exposed to these scenarios will gain valuable knowledge and experience in responding to remote area emergencies.

 During this course learners will take part in and learn how to respond to a range of scenarios and incidents such as; 

• multiple vehicle accidents – multiple injuries
• winch breakage – internal and external bleeding
• fire pit incident – multiple limbs burnt
• fall from heights – off the top of a parked vehicle
• allergic reaction – reaction to a bee sting
• envenomation – snake bite
• jack failure – crush injury & internal bleeding
• diabetic with head injury – rock fall
• near drowning – small boat capsize
• fractured leg – collapsed trailer jack
• identifying a person who is sick and needs to be evacuated
• identification of strokes and heart attack
• calling for help in remote locations (sat phone, PLBs, Trackers, UHF, ground signalling)
• setting up for arriving medical assistance
• moving the injured
• Identifying, monitoring and managing shock
• chemical related emergency
• and more!!!!

To find out more, please contact [email protected] or call 0431 248 389

EQUIPMENT SNAPSHOT inreach Explorer

We’ve been using the inreach Explorer for several months while in field. Whether it’s being carried by one of our guides, used to track event medical personnel or even just to monitor an asset that has been left in a remote location, we couldn’t be happier with this device. While on the road heading to a remote worksite the inreach sits in its RAM Mount powered cradle charging and communicating our progress and then once onsite it comes out of its cradle and clips onto a belt or pack strap while on foot, in a boat or while on another vehicle. We utilise the TracerTrack system for communicating to and monitoring staff while in the field and can even set geo-fences or GSI locations so an alert can be generated and send to management personnel if a inreach breach’s a location aiding in keeping staff on-route and in touch while in the field. This function is also great for automated “return to home notification” when workers are back to a known safe location. For more information, please checkout www.remotesafety.com.au

STAFF SNAPSHOT Lizzy Riley

Lizzy started her career in the Outdoors as a trainee in Outdoor Education of which has taken her all over NSW working as an Outdoor Facilitator and Instructor.  She later went on to study in Diploma of Outdoor Recreation and began working as a bushwalking, abseil, canyon and backcountry ski guide.

Lizzy took a special interest to the alpine environment and spent the next 5 years of snow seasons working between Australia, Japan and the Canadian Ski Resorts which has provided her with solid fonantaion in emergency management and first aid. During that time she worked as Ski Instructor, Ski School Manager, Ski Touring Guide, Ski Patroller and Avalanche Controller.

She has now settled on moving into a career of First Aid and is currently studying to become a qualified paramedic.

Lizzy is regularly in the field for RSS, whether it be guiding, working as a first responder on event medical taskings or coordinating RSS first aid courses around Australia. Lizzy is currently RSS’s Senior Outdoor Recreation Specialist currently working on the rollout of our School Outdoor Education Partnership which places experienced Outdoor Education specialist into the school’s day to day operation to assist teachers in the administration, development and rollout of school based Outdoor Education programs.

If you have any questions for Lizzy, please feel free to drop her a line [email protected]