Red Cross seeks volunteers

When disaster strikes Timaru a complete emergency response team is required to swing into action and remove casualties and get them to help points.

And for that to happen, the Red Cross needs more volunteers.

Twelve volunteers are required to join the existing eight members on the Timaru Disaster Welfare and Support Team (DWST).

Team leader Campbell Paton said he wanted to have 20 on the team.

Numbers had dropped recently as team members changed jobs or moved districts, he said.

The community-based volunteer group trained in emergency rescue, social services, welfare and support.

They were able to respond to local or national declared emergencies through out the country.

‘‘After a disaster we remove casualties from an area to a casualty control point to be triaged (assessed) before they are passed on to an ambulance.’’

The Red Cross also sets up welfare centres using inflatable shelters if buildings were unavailable.

The organisation had a trailer full of enough bedding and stretchers for 50 people.

‘‘We do an outreach to check houses to see if there are any needs or if any vulnerable people want assistance.’’

Displaced children are looked after by team members who try to relocate their parents.

After the Canterbury earthquake in 2010, the DWST went to Christchurch and distributed win- ter warmer packs with blankets and other useful items to the residents.

All new volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years-old with parental consent, or 18-plus without.

They need to pass a police check and undergo a four day foundational training session and then were on probation for three months.

In Timaru volunteers met every Tuesday evening and on some weekends, for ongoing training.

Practice exercises included ground based rescue using dummies or other volunteers with reconstructed injuries and situations.

‘‘We practice different scenarios and extractions in different conditions.’’

The job came with an element of risk in reality and the health and safety of team members was paramount.

Civil Defence would check if a damaged building was safe to enter before Red Cross went in, he said.

When a disaster did occur the team members were expected to look after themselves first, family and neighbours.

For more information contact: timaru@redcross.org.nz