Australians deliver emergency management training in myanmar

la debrief fyi bla bla APRIL 2013Australians deliver emergencymanagement training in MyanmarOn 16 February, an education faculty from Australia, consisting of three medicalofficers and two nurses from across the country, travelled to Myanmar (Burma) todeliver and train selected emergency physicians and health care professionals ondisaster preparedness and response, sponsored by the Australian Government. LindaWinn, Deputy Director of the Health Emergency Management Unit (previously knownas the CDU) was one of the team members selected to deliver the five day program.Myanmar will be hosting the 27th South East Asian (SEA)Games from 11-22 December 2013, with 10,000 athletesand officials, and over 40,000 spectators and supportersanticipated to attend. Myanmar Ministry of Health invitedAustralia to provide the education and training to ensurethat the country’s health professionals and hospitalsare prepared and ready to respond to a potential masscasualty incident.Although the Major Incident Medical Management andSupport course is internationally recognised and taughtin 60 countries, it had never been delivered in Myanmar.A total of 42 participants, including medical officers, fire,Red Cross (ambulance) and police attended the three dayadvanced course. An additional 30 doctors and nursesfrom the Yangon General Hospital attended a one dayteam member course. To evaluate and consolidate theteaching and training, an Emergo Train System (ETS)exercise was conducted with 62 participants at YangonGeneral Hospital. In addition, a site visit to the YangonStadium (to be used for the SEA Games) was conductedwith the nearby hospitals.There is no central coordination of ambulance servicesor a Triple Zero (000) equivalent in Myanmar. Eachhospital has its own ambulances, and there are variousvolunteer and private ambulance services. Skill levelsvary from basic first aid to medical officers working asambulance personnel. The ambulance vehicles also varyin the equipment provided. Emergency managementcoordination, therefore, will be pivotal in any mass casualtyevent, and it’s hoped the course has helped to buildnetworks for the response organisations.Overall, it was an excellent week and a fantasticopportunity to strengthen ties with the country’s health,ambulance, emergency response organisations andvarious ministries in Yangon.16 Ambulance Service of NSW

APRIL 2013bla debrief bla bla fyiBurma or Myanmar?In 1989, the Myanmar authorities changedthe official name of the country in Englishfrom Burma to Myanmar (in full, the Union ofMyanmar). In 2010, the Union of Myanmarbecame the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.A number of Myanmar opposition politicalparties and groups do not recognise the changesand continue to refer to the country in Englishas Burma. Myanmar is used by internationalorganisations of which it is a member, such asthe United Nations, the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations and the World Trade Organization.Practice by countries varies. The AustralianGovernment refers to the country as Myanmar.Source: www.dfat.gov.auFirst step to newBundeena StationThe Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner officially markedthe start of work on the new joint Bundeena Ambulanceand Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) station at a sodturning ceremony on 4 March. Joining the Ministerwas the Member for Heathcote, Lee Evans; FRNSWCommissioner, Greg Mullins; A/Director, MetropolitanDivision, Tony Gately; Deputy Director Operations, JeffGilchrist; Manager Infrastructure and Asset Services,Michael Lloyd; representatives from NSW Public Worksand Bundeena staff.Estimated to be completed in about six months, thenew station will see the fulfilment of the Government’selection commitment for infrastructure fundingand staffing at Bundeena. Part of this commitmentalso included the appointment of three permanentparamedics and one relief paramedic to Bundeena inlate 2011.Photo: Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner turns the sodwith the Member for Heathcote, Lee Evans and Ambulanceand Fire and Rescue NSW representatives.Ambulance Service of NSW 17