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New Smartphone App Helps Save A Rotorua Man's Life

31/5/2018

You have an 80% chance of surviving a cardiac arrest in an airport but less than 14% on the street. Survival falls by 10% for every minute without CPR/AED use so download GoodSAM and help save a life. Photo / Stephen Parker

An off-duty firefighter's actions to rush to a Rotorua home to help perform CPR is believed to be the first time a new smartphone app was used to help save a life.

Terry Robinson had only just joined GoodSAM Responder, a new St John Ambulance-run app that alerts people trained in CPR to situations in their areas where they might be able to help.
The app alerts registered "responders" to the crisis area and advises where the nearest defibrillator is. Robinson had just sat down after dinner on Monday, May 14 about 8.45pm when he got an alert on his phone. It said a man, who was John Raphael, was having a cardiac arrest on Mokoia Dr - only around the corner from where Robinson lived.

While he knew an ambulance was on its way, Robinson thought he might be able to get there quicker to start the CPR process. Robinson is trained in first aid through the Fire Service and joined the app only days earlier. When he arrived, he found John's wife, Jennifer, performing what he said was excellent CPR. He said it was difficult to keep up good form for any longer than four minutes and she had already been going about eight minutes.

Robinson took over for another four to five minutes until St John arrived and set up a defibrillator, which shocked John's heart back into beating. "She did everything right. She did a really awesome job."

Since joining GoodSAM Responder, Robinson has had about five alerts, but John's was the first he had responded to as the others were too far away. "In the Fire Service we know the importance of getting to a scene quickly so if I can do my bit then that's great." Robinson went back to the Raphaels' three days after John's cardiac arrest to pick up his glasses. "It was so good to see him up and about. But I don't need any praise because I just did what anyone would do."

St John launched the GoodSAM Responder in New Zealand in April. Medical director Dr Tony Smith said St John was delighted to hear John had survived his sudden cardiac arrest thanks to the quick thinking of both his wife and a trained GoodSAM Responder. "This quick intervention will have certainly helped to save the patient's life, and goes to the heart of the purpose of the GoodSAM App. This is hugely exciting as this is the first event we've been notified about where a GoodSAM Responder has directly helped to save someone's life since we launched the app in April."

Smith said for every minute without CPR or defibrillation, survival chances decreased by 10 to 15 per cent. He said in New Zealand about 2000 people a year suffered sudden cardiac arrest, and less than 14 per cent survived. "This helps to illustrate how absolutely everything went right to help increase this individual's survival chances."

St John hopes to see more members of the public learning CPR and becoming GoodSAM Responders in the community to help grow the existing pool of 2200 registered responders.

How you can help:

Any organisation or individual looking to learn CPR can apply for one of St John's free '3 steps for life' courses by emailing 3stepsforlife@stjohn.org.nz
For full first aid training, register at www.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid
CPR trained members of the public should register as a GoodSAM Responder at www.stjohn.org.nz/GoodSAM

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Lake Okareka Firefighters Raise More Than $6500 For Leukaemia Foundation

21/5/2018

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Seven volunteer firefighters from Lake Okareka Volunteer Rural Fire Force participated in the climb for charity.

Twelve minutes of pain was all it took for volunteer firefighters from Lake Okareka to win the team section of the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge for the fifth consecutive year.

Seven volunteers took on the challenge to climb the towers' 51 flights of stairs and the team score was taken from the three fastest climbers. Volunteer Phil Muldoon attributed the team's annual success to dedication to training and fundraising. "It's all above what's required. They are all volunteers taking time out to do it and it builds a good team. We get on well with the Ngongotahā crew and they provided good competition," he said.

The event is the biggest annual fundraiser for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and the station raised more than $6500 this year, adding to the more than $30,000 raised in the past five years.

A total of 950 firefighters, between 16 and 76 years old, from around the country took on the Sky Tower's 1103 stairs carrying a full firefighting kit weighing up to 25kg on Saturday. To prepare for the climb the Lake Okareka team trains in the stairwell at Novotel Rotorua, climbing the stairs 10 times is equivalent to one Sky Tower.

Volunteer Quinn McCarthy, 17, said training was more difficult as you had to keep going back down to the bottom of the stairs at the Novotel where as the Sky Tower was a continuous climb. "What kept me going was you couldn't go back down," he said. "The hardest part was looking at the number on the stairs. I got to 20 and was thinking 'This is going to be a long climb."

Matthew Carroll said heat exhaustion was the hardest thing to battle. "This was my first time doing the challenge. The stairs are hard but it's the heat and the mental side of things. You hear people keeling over and you think about what you're doing it for and it keeps you going," he said. Carroll said he was eager to participate again next year, as he now knew what to expect.

Muldoon's daughter, Amber, 18, placed sixth in the women's climb and said the heat and the claustrophobia was the biggest challenge.

Placings:
- Lewis Shaw: Third in the male open category - 11 minutes 54 seconds.
- Thomas Firth: Fourth in the male open category - 11 minutes 57 seconds.
- Samuel Weir: Fifth in the male open category - 12 minutes 28 seconds.
- Quinn McCarthy: Sixth in the male open category - 12 minutes 40 seconds.
- Matthew Carroll: 15th in the male open category - 15 minutes 49 seconds.
- Philip Muldoon: Sixth in the male grand masters category: 15 minutes 14 seconds.
- Amber Muldoon: Sixth in the female open category - 19 minutes 20 seconds.

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Rotorua Firefighters Stepping Up For Sky Tower Stair Challenge

14/5/2018

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Ngongotaha volunteer firefighter Anna Simmonds is getting nervous for the big climb. Photo/Ben Fraser

Local firefighters are stepping up to the challenge this year, with training and fundraising well under way for the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge.

On May 19, 950 firefighters from around the country will take on the 1103 stairs of Auckland's Sky Tower raising funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand. This year firefighters ranging in age from 16 to 76 will gear up with full firefighting kit and breathing apparatus weighing up to 25kg.

Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Francis Boag said it had a pretty good set up this year. "It's all for a good cause." While he said his training had not been quite as "extreme" as the rest of the team he was one of 10 members who would be taking part. "It's always a really good build up, and the atmosphere up there on the day is always amazing. The team has been great and the public has been really supportive."

The team has already raised more than $7000 through fundraising efforts.

Boag took his hat off to the team's biggest competition, the Lake Okareka team, the fastest three donned finishers last year. "They've got a great bunch and it's great what they can achieve."

For first time climber Anna Simmons, the 25kg she'll be lugging up 51 flights of stairs has a special significance. "What I'm going to climb up the sky tower in, in a few weeks time, is the weight that I've actually lost." Simmons said she was "very nervous" but had been going "hard out" on her training. "The worry is that I won't complete it, but I am driven, and I am motivated so if I have to I will crawl to the top. "I only plan on doing it once, but everyone says people always say that and then do it again."

Across New Zealand, about 200 brigades and their firefighters are holding popular fundraisers such as car washes, sausage sizzles and quiz nights. More unusual events include hypnotist evenings and guessing the number of Lego bricks in a 10kg fire truck.

To date this year, firefighters have raised more than $400,000 towards a fundraising target of $1 million.

The funds raised will help Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand run their vital nationwide service supporting Kiwis and their families who are living with a blood cancer.

By the numbers
- 51 flights of stairs
- 1103 individual steps
- At 328m the Sky Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere
- Firefighters will wear up to 25kg of kit
- 950 firefighters will race up the Sky Tower in 2018

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand
- Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC) is the national charity dedicated to supporting patients and their families living with blood cancers and related blood conditions. www.leukaemia.org.nz
- LBC does not receive government funding – the dollars raised from the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge help fund our core services including patient support, support and funding for research, awareness and advocacy

To support a brigade visit: www.firefightersclimb.org.nz

Key facts about blood cancers
- Every day, six New Zealanders are diagnosed with a blood cancer that's about 2200 New Zealanders a year
- The cause of blood cancers is unknown.
- These diseases can strike anyone, of any age, at any time, without warning.
- Immediate treatment may be necessary and that treatment can go on for months or even years.

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New Chapter For Rotorua Rural Fire

7/5/2018

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The shift of responsibility for rural fire services will shift from Rotorua Lakes Council to Fire and Emergency was formally marked today.

Principal Rural Fire Officer for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Paul Wright, said today’s handover was an opportunity to recognise the greatly valued past contribution of Council and its staff in rural fire management.

“Today’s occasion provides the opportunity to formally acknowledge and thank the Council and their dedicated staff for all their major contribution to rural fire management within the District.”

Mr Wright has worked with Rotorua Lakes Council in various roles since 1994 and says the local council’s proactive approach to rural fire management has been a benchmark for others to aim for. “I have valued the professional and supportive relationship,” he said.

Last year, in a bid to provide more effective fire and emergency services across the country, urban and rural fire services merged to create Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

In the central North Island this merger involved multiple agencies which dealt in urban and rural fire responses, including Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority and Rotorua Lakes Council.

As at the end of March 2018, one of the last steps for the transition saw Fire and Emergency New Zealand officially assumed the management of all rural processes in the Rotorua region. “An immediate benefit of the transfer that residents may see is the substantial investment to personnel training, fleet upgrades and property improvements,” Mr Wright said.

“These investments will help create the more effective and efficient teams that support the rural community.”

What next:

Rural fire permits will be issued by Fire and Emergency New Zealand as of the start of the next fire season, 1 October 2018.

Investment has been made into a new national online system called ‘Check it’s alright’ that will make applying for permits easier for everyone.

It will also provide a more consistent way for FENZ to monitor safety when lots of landowners are burning during fine weather.

From 1 October 2018 to apply for a Fire Permit visit www.checkitsalright.nz or if people do not have a computer or smartphone they can apply through the Pumicelands District number (07) 349 2795 or come to the Fire and Emergency Rotorua Fire Station at 19 Biak St.

Photo: Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick with Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel, members of local volunteer rural fire services from Lake Okareka, Tarawera and West Rotoiti (Okere Falls) and rural fire staff from Rotorua Lakes Council.

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