A man and woman are trapped. The driver is deceased, the woman critical.
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Sirens flash and the Ballarat Fire Brigade rescue unit get to work.
They assess the scene and ensure the small red car that has ploughed into a tree is stablised.
They make sure no fuel is leaking. They then clear the area of glass and start cutting off the doors. Every second counts. This was the simulated car crash scene the year 11 and 12 Mount Clear College VCAL students witnessed on Wednesday morning.
This time it was a re-enactment, but it is a scene firefighters regularly attend according to the brigade’s captain.
As Fatality Free Friday nears the brigade is intent on showing the region’s school students the reality of car crashes. That they do happen, the trauma is real and it has a ripple effect on all involved.
As the firefighters cut the doors off they reach patient two. This patient, who is still alive, is their priority.
With the help of students, acting as volunteers, they stablise the patient and move her on a stretcher.
The patient is assessed as paramedics have not yet arrived. The patient’s heart has stopped beating.
The crew begins CPR.
“As a firefighter, you have to be ready for all situations,” Captain Mark Cartledge says.
He has been asked to tell students the reality of car accidents.
“The school approached us to push the road safety message out to the group of students. This was a good opportunity to go out and help them, educate the class in an interactive way.”
Captain Cartledge said the demonstration showed how time-critical response was, while showing students that the road toll was not just a number.
“You die, you’re virtually a number. You become ‘road fatality number 27’,” he said.
“This shows there are real people involved.”
This year the brigade has used the rescue unit 40 times, attending mainly road collisions. Mount Clear College VCAL teacher Brendan Johnston said the students were studied communities and community involvement for some subject.
Last week they heard from John Maher, whose daughter Carmen died more than 20 years ago in a car accident.
“It was quite overwhelming and profound impact,” Mr Johnston said.
“I asked the CFA to come and explain what they see and the trauma they are exposed to, to show the students the impact road collisions have. The whole reason these things happen everyday is because, often, of silly mistakes. We want that to stop and the more realisation and education students have, the greater chance we have.”