Ambulance Week 2010 - QAS honour fallen officers at memorial service
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) staff and volunteers gathered at St James Church at Coorparoo today to honour collegues who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Queensland Ambulance Service ( QAS ) staff and volunteers gathered at St James Church at Coorparoo today to honour collegues who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the service was one of a number of similar events being held across the state to recognise the 32 ambulance officers who had lost their lives in an effort to save others since 1920.
“On a daily basis paramedics can be faced with a range of different circumstances from routine jobs to the most difficult and dangerous emergency situations,” Mr Roberts said.
“Situations can be unpredictable and while officers undertake a high level of training to respond to a range of scenarios, sadly lives have been lost in the line of duty.
“Today was a unique opportunity to honour these brave officers and to extend condolences to their loved ones. The loss of an officer is a shock to the service and community and I would like to recognise the bravery and determination paramedics take to the frontline to serve the people of Queensland.”
QAS Commissioner David Melville also recognised the brave officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty and encouraged everyone to get behind the 3100 ambulance operatives across the State who provide a top service to their communities.
“Ambulance officers can find themselves in situations which other general or medical professionals may never encounter. One day they can find themselves comforting an elderly woman whose husband who has just passed from a cardiac arrest in their family home to stabilising a patient trapped in the wreckage of a motor vehicle,” Mr Melville said.
“Paramedics handle a range of incidents with confidence, bravery and demonstrate the highest clinical standards and I am extremely proud of their efforts.”
Todays rememberance service was held to coincide with Ambulance Week celebrations.
Ambulance Week is an annual event coordinated by the Queensland Ambulance Service ( QAS ) designed to celebrate and recognise the dedication and commitment of QAS members, paid and volunteer, operational and non-operational, past and present.
Media contact: Minister's office - ( 07 ) 3239 0199; DCS Media - ( 07 ) 3247 8186
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