Rescue team ready to help
Ready for action: Teresa C’Hullier, Anne McIntyre, Kevin C’Huillier and Jenny Hibbit are all active members of the Venus Bay Community Emergency Response Team.
YOU may not know what a CERT is but if you dial 000 in Venus Bay they could well be the ones saving your life.
CERTs or Community Emergency Response Teams are made up of volunteers highly qualified in first aid and emergency response.
The Venus Bay area has employed the services of a CERT from the past five years and has never looked back.
The Star caught up with Venus Bay CERT members last week to talk about what they do.
“The idea is that respond to any triple 000 emergency,” CERT member Jenny Hibbit said.
“It can be anything: illness, car accident, drowning, child birth or anything else.
“Because we are 30 minutes away from the furthest ambulance under lights and sirens, we get there first and administer first aid until the ambulance gets there.”
As the first on the scene CERT has to be ready for anything, including at road accidents.
“We do whatever it is we can,” Jenny said.
“Whether it be to alleviate pain, stop bleeding or begin a resuscitation prior to the arrival of the ambulance.”
The team handles around 120 calls a year and that can involve anything.
CERT are constantly in radio contact with the forthcoming ambulance crew when attending a job.
“One of the main things we do first is take observations and let the ambulance guys know what they will be facing when they arrive,” Jenny said.
“This saves them time when they get to the job preparing for what they will encounter.”
It can be hard being part of CERT explained member Kevin C’Huillier.
“When you are in a small community it can cause problems,” he said.
“There’s a high chance you will be going to treat somebody that you know.
“That can make it a bit hard because you’re not anonymous in those cases and then neither are they.”
The team is made up of 10 highly qualified volunteers with five other set to finish their training this month.
“CERT is wholly sponsored and run by Ambulance Victoria,” Jenny said.
“We are all trained to a very high level of first aid and trained by paramedics.
“Here we have a great crew of likeminded people who want to do something for the community.”
The CERT officers have the same qualifications that ambulance officers received two decade ago.
Support is a major factor that the team provide.
“The best part about us is that even though we can’t do a lot physically, we can bring reassurance to anybody who is feeling upset or distressed over whatever has prompted the call,” Jenny said.
“No matter how serious or minor, it is their perception is that it’s an important one.
“Invariably we always walk into a situation that can be quite fraught with emotion.”
When the Venus Bay CERT group started in 2007 they were very well received.
“The whole introduction of CERT to Venus Bay was fantastic because some of the older residents were moving out because of the lack of available health services,” Jenny said.
“A lot of the older people now feel a lot more confident about staying in the area and now feel confident that medical help is at hand if it is required.”
Remember if you need emergency assistance in Venus Bay, Tarwin Lower and Walkerville it is never far away. CERT is ready to act 24/7.
If you are looking at joining the team contact Anne on 5663 7035 or Jenny on 5663 7173.
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