Heavy vehicle truck drivers are regularly the first to arrive on the scene at road crashes on rural and regional roads. These drivers face often confronting situations that require them to provide emergency support and first aid prior to the arrival of emergency service authorities.
Due to the geographical nature of Queensland and the distances truck drivers cover, they are more likely to be placed in a situation where they are first on scene on our rural and regional roads.
To support truck drivers, the Queensland Trucking Association Ltd (QTA), in partnership with the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) is facilitating ‘First on Scene: Remote Incident Training for Heavy Vehicle Drivers’ training sessions around Queensland. Griffith University are also working in collaboration with QTA and MAIC to conduct a research project and outcome evaluation.
A recent survey undertaken indicates that 70% of regional and remote area heavy vehicle drivers report having been first on the scene of a road crash. Fifty percent of these drivers report having provided first aid for more than an hour before medical help arrived.
Gary Mahon, Chief Executive Officer of the QTA said, “We are pleased to be rolling out this training to support our heavy vehicle drivers who are often exposed to confronting scenes on our roads. We want to ensure that they can react to these incidents practically and safely, not only to look after themselves, but to provide the necessary assistance when emergency service authorities are required to travel long distances to the site.”
Insurance Commissioner, Motor Accident Insurance Commission, Neil Singleton said, “With such a wide state to cover, truck drivers need to be on our roads night and day, and will often face incidents where they may provide emergency first aid. Within the Queensland Compulsory Third Party Scheme, while incidents in rural and remote areas thankfully happen less frequently, they often result in more serious injuries. Providing correct training in first aid and first response can provide lifesaving assistance at the scene of a road crash, prior to the arrival of emergency services. MAIC is proud to be collaborating in this First on Scene initiative which will provide important skills to ensure a truck driver can safely respond to these incidents if required.”
Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent, Road Policing and Regional Support Command, Christopher Stream said, “First on Scene training provides an opportunity for heavy vehicle drivers to provide lifesaving primary care to road crash victims at a critical time. The Queensland Police Service commends the initiative for heavy vehicle drivers to be provided this training for use in a workplace shared by thousands of drivers. The heavy vehicle industry are very important partners in road safety and in particular on rural and remote roads when a traffic crash occurs, they are often “first on scene”.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Assistant Commissioner for Central Region, Robbie Medlin said, “We know all too well just how critical the first moments after a road incident really are. For many serious road incidents, it can be the difference between life and death.
Some members of our community, like heavy vehicle drivers, are more likely to come across a road crash than others. This means it is incredibly important for them to know the basics of how to respond – this includes everything from knowing how to call Triple Zero (000), being comfortable with CPR and basic first aid.
In the event of an emergency in rural and remote areas, QAS recommend the use of the Emergency+ App to identify the exact location of the crash site. This can save precious minutes for emergency services. The free app uses GPS functionality to help a Triple Zero (000) caller provide critical details required to mobilise an emergency response, including exact location details.
Dr Darren Wishart from Griffith University, the research lead on the project said “This is a great initiative to support heavy vehicle drivers and regional road safety and an opportunity to evaluate the benefits of such a unique program”.
The aim is to train 150 heavy vehicle drivers who frequently travel highway, regional and remote routes in first aid and other immediate crash scene management skills. The training will be delivered by qualified professionals from the Queensland Ambulance Service; St John’s Ambulance; Queensland Police Service and Energy Queensland.
The half day face-to-face training sessions will be held for drivers around the State who travel on rural and regional routes. The training will involve practical application of learned skills. The training is fully funded by MAIC and participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.
The training is expected to commence in December 2022 and run through to November 2023.
For more information and to express interest, please visit qta.com.au/projects
Media Contacts:
QTA – Gary Mahon, CEO | 0418 736 802 | [email protected]
MAIC – Neil Singleton, Insurance Commissioner | 0457 566 346 | [email protected]
QPS – Christopher Stream | Acting Chief Superintendent, Road Policing and Regional Support Command, | [email protected]
QAS – Robbie Medlin, Assistant Commission, Central Region | 07 4923 6701 | [email protected]
Griffith University – Dr Darren Wishart, Senior Researcher, School of Psychology | 07 3735 1206 | [email protected]