A female motorcyclist who injured her leg while riding in the state forest near Scarsdale on Saturday afternoon was lucky to have the SES come to her aid with its latest piece of technology.
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The SES’ new mule wheeled stretcher carrier was used to get the patient through 400 metres of forest to a waiting ambulance, which was unable to reach the motorcycle.
The Ballarat SES acquired the $2000 piece of equipment in 2016 through a donation from the Ballarat Lions Club. The stretcher allows SES volunteers to reach patients in harsh terrain which cannot be accessed by vehicles.
SES Ballarat operations deputy controller Craig Elliot said the incident proved how valuable the new equipment was to all emergency services.
“Unfortunately it’s not a standard piece of equipment but it makes a big difference,” Mr Elliot said. “As far as comfort goes we're able to decrease the pain the patient was experiencing.
“It’s also a lot easier on our staff from a health and safety perspective because we don’t have to physically carry the patient.”
