A WA parliamentary question addresses the restrictions on pain relief administration by Volunteer Marine Rescue Services and St John Ambulance volunteers in marine rescue situations, specifically referencing an incident in Esperance. The response clarifies VMRS volunteers can offer Schedule 3 medication for self-administration and directs further questions about St John Ambulance to the organisation itself.

AnsweredQoN 1104Legislative Council
Asked
7 November 2018
Portfolio
Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

VOLUNTEER MARINE RESCUE SERVICES — PAIN
RELIEF ADMINISTRATION
1104. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to an incident in Esperance
on 11 October 2018 in which a fisherman was barbed by a stingray approximately
30 nautical miles off the coast. Volunteer Marine Rescue Services personnel
were not permitted to give him pain relief during the return journey, and my
understanding is that St John Ambulance volunteers were not allowed to journey
with the VMRS to collect the man.
(1) Are Volunteer
Marine Rescue Services personnel not allowed to administer pain relief; and, if
yes, why?
(2) Are St John Ambulance volunteers not allowed to
administer care on the sea or in the air; and, if yes, why?
(3) Who makes the
decision that St John Ambulance volunteers are not allowed to administer care
on the sea or in the air?
(4) Are professional community
paramedics allowed to administer care on the sea or in the air?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Volunteer
Marine Rescue Services volunteers are permitted to offer schedule 3 medication
to the patient. The medication must be self-administered.
(2)–(4) Refer to St John
Ambulance WA.

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