As the year progressed, RACQ CapRescue was proud to continue to provide exceptional emergency services to the communities of Central Queensland. November was a particularly active month, with rescues highlighting the team’s readiness and expertise..
The month began with a challenging mission on November 6th, when the Rescue300 crew was called to assist the Queensland Police Service with a winch recovery task for a lost bushwalker at Mount Larcom. Despite the darkness and difficult terrain, the crew successfully located and rescued the man, aged in his sixties, using night vision goggles and conducted a successful winch recovery. The patient was flown to Gladstone Hospital for observation as a precaution.
Mid-month, on November 15th, a hot day called the Rescue300 crew into action as they responded to a primary task involving a teenage boy who had a medical emergency on Lady Musgrave Island. The patient was stabilized, and the crew could enjoy a brief respite from the sea breeze during the operation.
A few days later, on November 17th, the crew attended a single-vehicle accident 10 kilometres north of Marlborough. A truck had rolled, leaving the driver, a man in his 30s, with suspected facial and head injuries. The Rescue300 medical crew provided critical care at the scene and transported the patient by air to Rockhampton Base Hospital for the necessary medical attention.
The last weekend of November was no less busy for the crew. On November 25th, they were called to a serious accident on a rural property north of Rockhampton, where a buggy had rolled over, injuring two teenage boys. One of the boys required an urgent aeromedical transfer to Rockhampton Hospital, and our flight medical team worked seamlessly with Queensland Ambulance Service personnel to stabilise the patient for the flight. The other occupant received road transport to the hospital for further treatment.
Throughout the month, the crew also performed 26 inter-facility transfers, which brought the the total number of such rescues to almost 300! Well and truly above previous year’s. These transfers are vital for patients in remote and regional areas requiring specialised care at larger Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay, and Bundaberg hospitals.
During the busy months, we reflect on the crucial role RACQ CapRescue plays in our community. The crew’s unwavering commitment to providing rapid and expert emergency services is a testament to their dedication to saving lives.