11 April 2024
Our mine rescue crew impresses against the region’s best
By Tamara Robertson
Tahmoor Coking Coal’s Mine Rescue team has finished a creditable third in the 2024 Northern Region First Aid Competition in Newcastle run by Coal Services in conjunction with Mines Rescue.
Competing against 12 other teams from the Illawarra, Hunter Valley and Newcastle regions, the Tahmoor crew of four competed in a series of first aid scenarios that ambulance officers and paramedics come across daily.
The scenarios, at the Newcastle mines rescue station, were drawn from real-life scenarios that local paramedics have encountered, with an added mining twist.
It is a really good day and teaches important life skills, whether it be at work or at home, that if anything was to go wrong, we have the knowledge and the skills to give assistance when needed
Tahmoor team captain Kristian Evans
The purpose of the event is to assess how teams react and respond to real life-threatening scenarios and give them the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in a safe setting.
Some of the scenarios included:
- A 21st birthday party with illegal drugs and guest overdosing
- Two people falling from a height in a mine with gas and confined space issues
- A person bitten by a brown snake
- Two people working in the backyard with one worker becoming impaled on a pitchfork
Kristian Evans, the Tahmoor team captain, was rightfully proud of the team’s efforts.
“It was a good performance by the team,” Kristian said.
“It is a really good day and teaches important life skills, whether it be at work or at home, that if anything was to go wrong, we have the knowledge and the skills to give assistance when needed.”
Coming third behind Dendrobium and Bengalla, the team is now preparing for its next competition in July at Moolarben, New South Wales.
“I encourage people wanting to learn first aid or even compete at one of these competitions to put their hand up and let’s get more teams competing in future events,” Kristian said.
Main image: The Tahmoor team of Kristian Evans (team captain), Joe Bassil, Matthew McPherson, Wayne Cook. Above right and below: The Tahmoor team in action at the competition. Pictures: Coal Services
Read more about Tahmoor’s competition success
