Step 1 – Provide Emergency First Aid – For any life threatening situations as the first respondents leaders will need to provide emergency first aid and keep the volunteer as calm as possible.
E.g. Anaphylaxis (no epipen), head injury, rapid blood loss, serious self harm
Step 2 – Contact Emergency Services – Another leader should call the all/the relevant emergency services for assistance
- Contact Police/Ambulance on 917
- Mental Health Crisis – Lifeline Fiji’s 24/7 Crisis Helpline: 1543 (crisis intervention workers)
- Call Helipro (+679) 770 7700. HELIPRO FIJI operates throughout the Fiji Islands and South Pacific for international aeromedical evacuations.
Due to the rural locations of projects you are likely to need your own transport in an emergency to get to medical services faster (unless using Helipro) in this scenario you should still contact emergency services for advice on how to support individuals and where to take them for hospital treatment.
Step 3 – Contact Project Coordinator – Once first aid is provided and emergency services have advised on where to take the volunteer contact the Project Manager at the earliest opportunity. Information is relayed quickly and clearly, includes:
- Names of affected participants
- Details of nature of incident and severity of injury
- Any communication made to emergency services or private transport to hospital already arranged
- Names of hospitals/clinics being visited
- Situation of the rest of the team
- Any contact made to parents affected by participants
Multiple leaders may be able to contact the PC and emergency services simultaneously.
In the background – Project Coordinator contacts Mobility Manager who coordinates response from this point, including: making decisions on hospital treatment and ensuring swift medical response. A member of the health support team organises transport to meet the patient and leader at the chosen medical facility.
Step 4 – Regular Communication – Project Coordinator communicates directly with first responders – establishing regular contact during a crisis (minimum once every 30 minutes in a rapidly changing environment). Leaders follow calls with written notes and updates (whatsapp, text or email for example).
Step 5 – Leader handover to Health Support – Once members of the health team arrive they will relieve the leader of their responsibility and provide support to the patient & leader.
Wider Team Support
- Remaining leaders to ensure everyone else is safe, supported and comfortable
- Leaders to liaise between PC & village to keep all up to date (only minimal details required)
- If additional support is required PC may be required to visit project for additional support