On Thursday 26 January, around 20 members of the Monbulk CFA Fire & Rescue Brigade attended a training session, where they reinforced skills in the circumstance of a car rollover.
Using a mannequin as a replica for a single driver, crews stabilised the vehicle with their Stabfast system at the rear of the car, then performed an ‘Oyster’ technique; cutting the B and C pillars and putting small relief cuts in the roof.
With the roof folding down, crews were able to gain access and moved inside from the back of the car, using a spine board to extricate the patient.
Brigade captain Simon Schroder said because car rollovers do not occur too often, practising for the occasion is all the more important.
“Because of the high risk nature of performing rescue, you’ve got to be pretty sharp and keep the training up,” Mr Schroder said.
“Based over the training, we practised, we go right through an array of different techniques, and ar editions and makes and models, and keep all the techniques well practised.”
Training exercises also provide a chance for members with experience to share their experiences and knowledge with newer members, Mr Schroder said.
“Some of them have probably up to 40 years of experience and the people that have been there in the last 12 months, so a large part of it is passing on your experiences and knowledge to the next generation.
“[Members] ages are roughly 50s right down to eight years of age.. people join the brigade at different points of their life.”
While the number of Monbulk Fire & Rescue brigade members are currently steady, Mr Schroder said brigades are always interested in more volunteers.
“Particularly with the focus on people available during business hours is where brigades would struggle,” he said.
The Monbulk Fire & Rescue Brigade holds about 12 rescue training sessions a year, with time also dedicated to firefighting training and special rope rescue.
