2. Mick Lazell :- Superintendent
Operations Centre Manager Northern Operations
Centre Townsville
Queensland Ambulance Service
3. LOOKING AFTER OUR COMMUNITIES AND
STAFF THROUGH IMPROVED RESILIENCY
AND REDUNDANCY
4.
5. OVERVIEW
An area of 1,852 642 square kilometres
7 Operations Centres service state
50 000 Emergency calls per month
Northern Operation Centre averages 4500
Emergency calls per month
17. • Predictable event watch 24 to 48
hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event watch 12-24 hrs pre
impact
• Severe weather event warning 12 hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event warning 6 hours pre
impact.
• IMPACT
18. Operations Centre
Predictable Event Watch
24 to 48 hours Pre Impact
Operations Centre Manager, Operations Centre Supervisor, Chief Superintendent Operations Centres, Assistant Commissioner State
Operations Centres
Item Operations Centre Checklist YES NO N/A Date
Time
1.1
Review Current Plan and Update Key Personnel
List
1.2
Participate in Briefing from Operations Centre
Manager and Chief Superintendent Operations
Centres
1.3
Operations Centre Manager to discuss the
activation schedule of Network Incident
Management Team and Network Ambulance
Coordination Centre
1.4
Liaise with Operations Centre Manager for
potential and alternate Communication methods /
channels
1.5
Monitor EMQ briefings and BOM advice
(www.bom.gov.au)
1.6
Ensure Operations Centre Emergency Equipment
Cache secure and available for utilisation /
mobilisation
1.8
Brief Operations Centre Manager and Chief
Superintendent Operation Centres on progress
19. • Predictable event watch 24 to 48 hrs pre
impact
• Severe weather event watch 12-24 hrs
pre impact
• Severe weather event warning 12 hrs pre
impact
• Severe weather event warning 6 hours pre
impact.
• IMPACT
20. Predictable Event Watch Response
24 hours Pre Impact
Operations Centre Manager, Operations Centre Supervisor, Chief Superintendent Operations Centres, Assistant
Commissioner State Operations Centres
Item Operations Centre Checklist YES NO N/A Date Time
2.1
Brief Staff on roles and responsibilities including
the need to maintain their own Health and Safety
and protect QAS assets where possible
2.2
Monitor EMQ briefings and advice .
(www.bom.gov.au)
2.3
Monitor threat / risk as it increases, ensuring all
responses are appropriate
2.5
Liaise with Resource Readiness Coordinator to
ensure adequate fuel supplies available to meet
anticipated needs for generators
2.6
Liaise with WHS regarding all Staff and Family
Welfare ensuring Health and Safety
2.7
Liaise with Workforce Planning and Coordination
Unit re Staffing Levels required and suitable
rostering arrangements in place ensuring relief
available for protracted events
2.8
Ensure adequate food, water and refrigeration
available to meet anticipated needs. Also
consider requirement of stand alone freezer and
make arrangement for hire if required
2.9
Operations Centre Supervisor's to commence pre
cyclone inspection report and preparations on
their Operations Centre/s
2.10
Brief Operations Centre Manager / Chief
Superintendent Operations Centres on progress
and preparedness
21. Looking after the Staff…Looking
after the Community
• Volunteers to work through the storm
crossing.
• Some elected to stay with their
families
22. • Predictable event watch 24 to 48 hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event watch 12-24 hrs pre
impact
• Severe weather event warning 12
hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event warning 6 hours pre
impact.
• IMPACT
23. <12 hours to Impact
Operations Centre Manager, Operations Centre Supervisor, Chief Superintendent Operations
Centres, Assistant Commissioner State Operations Centres
Item Operations Centre Checklist YES NO N/A Date Time
3.1
Notify Operations Centre Manager and Chief
Superintendent Operations Centres of
availability of Staff representative for the
Network Ambulance Coordination Centre
(NACC)
3.3
Operations Centre Supervisor to ensure
Operations Centre Checklist’s complete within
nominated timeframe
3.4
Participate in the Briefing sessions as dictated
by the Operations Centre Manager and Chief
Superintendent Operations Centres
3.5 Brief Staff on Shift
3.7
Monitor the threat / risk and as it increases
ensure all responses are appropriate,
considering staff, vehicles and equipment
3.8
In conjunction with the Operations Centre
Manager identify succession staff for
Operations Centre Management positions
3.9
Plan Facility Evacuation point and secondary
operations area
3.10
Forward copies of completed sections of
Operations Centre Checklist to Operations
Centre Manager by E-Mail and Facsimile
3.11
Brief Chief Superintendent and Operations
Centres on progress
24. • Predictable event watch 24 to 48 hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event watch 12-24 hrs pre
impact
• Severe weather event warning 12 hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event warning 6
hours pre impact.
• IMPACT
25. Cyclone Warning
<6 hours to Impact
Operations Centre Manager, Operations Centre Supervisor, Chief Superintendent Operations
Centres, Assistant Commissioner State Operations Centres
Item Operations Centre Checklist YES NO N/A Date/
Time
4.1
Identify non essential Staff and Stand Down for
rest period
4.2
Monitor EMQ briefings and BOM advice .
(www.bom.gov.au)
4.4
Monitor the threat / risk and as it increases
ensure all responses are appropriate
4.5
Consider Risks to Staff, vehicles, and equipment
in any response to calls for assistance
4.6
Ensure critical infrastructure secured and
alternate plans in place
4.7
Adequate Protection for Staff vehicles – if
available
4.8
Forward copies of completed sections of
Operations Centre Checklist to Operations
Centre Manager by E-Mail and Facsimile
4.90
Brief Operations Centre Manager and Chief
Superintendent Operations Centres on progress
27. • Predictable event watch 24 to 48 hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event watch 12-24 hrs pre
impact
• Severe weather event warning 12 hrs pre impact
• Severe weather event warning 6 hours pre
impact.
•IMPACT
28. Operations Centre
Cyclone Impact
Operations Centre Manager, Operations Centre Supervisor, Chief Superintendent Operations Centres, Assistant Commissioner State Operations Centres
Item Operations Centre Checklist YES NO N/A Date/
Time
5.1 Ensure Safety and Health of Staff
5.2 Maintain Communications links (if possible)
5.3
Commence Post Impact Planning in conjunction
with Network or State IMT
5.4
Consider Risks to Staff, vehicles, and equipment in
any response to calls for assistance. Consider
wind speed and weather conditions in the local
area. Consult with Senior Operations Supervisor
and Operations Centre Manager prior to tasking
Operational Crew's
5.5 Ensure Critical Infrastructure integrity (if possible)
5.6
Prepare and Brief Operations Centre Manager as
soon as practical
5.10
Monitor the threat / risk and as it increases ensure
all responses are appropriate
5.11
Keep the Operations Centre staff advised of the
current situation
5.12
Forward copies of completed sections of
Operations Centre Checklist to Operations Centre
Manager by E-Mail and Facsimile
29.
30. Operations Centre
Post Impact
Immediate Recovery
Operations Centre Manager, Operations Centre Supervisor, Chief Superintendent Operations Centres, Assistant Commissioner State Operations Centres
Item Operations Centre Checklist YES NO N/A Date/
Time
6.1
Re establish Operations Centre Management –
Identify Staff / support staff who are unable to
attend and coordinate coverage in conjunction with
Workforce Planning and Coordination Unit and
Operations Centre Manager
6.2
Ensure Health and Welfare of all OpCen Staff and
families in affected area
6.3
Re-establish link with adjacent Operations Centres
and Network Ambulance Coordination Centre / IMT
and keep them advised of the current situation
6.4
Complete a visual reconnaissance of the affected
Operations Centre/s area if possible
6.9 Establish Liaison with local Qld Health facilities
6.10
Identify safe Staging Area and Responsible Officer
for external resource support
6.11
Brief Operations Centre Manager, Chief
Superintendent Operations Centre and Operations
Supervisors of support and assistance required as
soon as practical
6.12
Re-establish service delivery, considering a staged
process in line with community recovery efforts,as
soon as safe to do so
6.14
Record details of all loss or damage to the
Operations Centre Manager
6.15 Arrange for a debrief for all Staff
6.16
Brief Operations Centre Manager / Chief
Superintendent Operations Centres on progress
31. Severe Weather - Post Impact
(Immediate Recovery)
Assistant Commissioner, Superintendent Operations, Operations Supervisors, Special Operations Coordinator, Operations Centre Manager,
Item Regional Checklist YES NO N/A Date Time
6.17
Consideration of Service Delivery Models – Code
1 + 2 Only or full service
Thank IAED distinguished guests colleagues ladies and gentlemen
What I have done 22 years paramedic to Operations centre supervisor and Superintendent managing an EOcentre last 5 years
share with you our experiences with TC Yasi , how we prepared to continue to deliver services to the communities that the OpCen provides service too what we did for our staff , and what was put in place to help us continue to provide care to the communities that were affected as well as changes resulting from this storm event
In Queensland we use AMPDS last 15 years across three different CAD platforms started of with a card system and now have the integrated computerised version
Queensland 1.7 M squre km population
Queensland has a population of 4,560,059, concentrated along the coast and particularly in the state&apos;s South East. The state is the world&apos;s sixth largest sub-national entity, with an area of 1,852,642 km2. The capital and largest city in the state is Brisbane, Australia&apos;s third largest city.
To give a comparison of the size /strength of TC Yasi LOOK at size wind speed category eye size
This was the projected track that the storm was to take . Queensland has 7 OpCen across the state each one supports the other in that emergency calls if not answered in one are rerouted to the next one .One in Cairns Townsville and Rockhampton,
Distance from crossing of cyclone 160 km from Townsville and about 180 south of cairns
Nursing home at Cardwell evacuated by road south to Townsville
Nursing homes in Townsville evacuated to western centres and cyclone shelters
There is an OpCen in Cairns and in Townsville, both of them were going to be subjected to the storm.
Prior preparation ……….defiance in the face of mother nature and Australian disposition
Air force plans on the tarmac in readiness to receive patients
Air force plans on the tarmac in readiness to receive patients early decision regarding moving patients was essential
Flight time from Cairns to Bne is over two hours , double the flight time Singapore to KL
Speak about the 4 genesys centres also that the fail over from Cairns is Townsville
Note that the emergency call waitimes were altered .. Townsville supporting Cairns when their OpCen was impacted by water/rain CADE linked across state other areas , when selected are able to monitor case units etc
Patients being monitored pre flight
Patients secured into the Hercules aircraft in preparation for departure QAS coordinated patient movements at both ends with the military providing the transport and patient care in transit.
Stretcher patients, patients able to mobilise and those that we being ventilated all together
Coordination of delivery to the airport and then again at the other end tracking where patients were going so relatives would also know.
Utilised Check lists to ensure that nothing is missed Each Ambulance station also has checks to complete and then send back in to the Operations managers. The Operations Centre has their own checklists to go through and like the other ambulance response points they also have stages Staff preparation ,.. food was purchased, testing of each of the pieces of communication equipment.. Satellite phones man pack portable bas stations as well as different mobile phone carries. &lt; this one PREDICATABLE EVENT WATCH ,
food was purchased, testing of each of the pieces of communication equipment.. Satellite phones man pack portable bas stations as well as different mobile phone carries. rostering volunteers were called for the night shift of the predicted crossing staff given the option to come into work or stay at home, we wanted people who wanted to be there and would be able to focus on the work given that they were going to be there longer than our normal shifty length ( 12 hrs), actually at work for 18 hours1600 to 1000 the next day
Planning was also put in place for after the event staff that chose not to come in during the cyclone crossing were rostered to provide coverage post the event
Impact The peak of the storm, storm shutters closed all paramedics and vehicle in shelter. The highest priority at this time is to ensure that our people are not placed in harms way, providing clinical advice to any callers and advising them that paramedics would not be responding until the storm had passed. Clinicians were experienced paramedics eg some cases paediatric ingested toxic substance, contacted support from poisons information , their request transport to hospital,, alas not possible.. Male with # arm wife go through home meds to look for pain relief until service available multiple calls 21 from person with cut finger who thought they were going to die… speak to the shelters, paramedics placed into cyclone shelters to assist with service delivery to the community
Staff accessing ways to work paramedic crews being able to access their patients
Immediate post impact for us: a number of repeaters had received damage, with power to some sites being damaged ; all staff were contacted those not on duty to confirm welfare other OpCens contacted determinations made to damage to Ambulance depot in the north
This was reviewed in conjunction with on road managers and supervisors and was due to access a greater time frame for paramedics to respond to cases , in such circumstances cases continued to be clinical reviewed to ascertain the best response or if a response could be delayed
This is an 87kw generator 3 days of power , lighting air-conditioning, radio, telephony ability to charge mobile phones and vehicles. Week link was the mains power board that is on the ground floor
Larger 220 kw power bypass main switch board direct to 1 st floor and then down to ground floor mains board
Third generator site connected if required
A and B battery banks UPS now able to safely last 8 hours with nil impact to service delivery possible be able to last 12 hours with load shedding…
Radio mast moved from rood to fee standing mono pole of 40metres cat 5 rated OC roof is now safe
Radio room server room Professional Development Officer, staff amenities Kitchen etc 12 CAD consoles storm shutter to all windows
Power supply… radio towers aerials… review what happened document challenges how overcome Have 3 days of supplies, ensure your own medical supplies staff is familiar with does it work and does it do the job you thought is did? Talk through scenarios when to activate plans evacuate the OpCen, activate the redundant site dispatch operations through it our generators are run every week mains power is failed then the A generator then The B generator is failed.
Support staff in their wanting to help allow them to feel that their families are safe be flexible.
