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Tenterfield bus accident report
Tenterfield Bus Accident Report Author: Jane Hynes Registered Nurse Tenterfield Hospital Tenterfield is a small country town with a population of approximately 3300 people. The town therefore has limited resources in relation to disaster management such as the bus accident that occurred in the early hours of January 7th 1997. The night highlighted the inter&sciplinary cooperation between emergency services; Police, Ambulance and Fire Brigade, volunteer organisations; State Emergency Service, local support groups and the hospital staff. The teams worked efficiently and competently together to limit the impact on all involved. The Tenteffleld Health service is a 36 bed multipurpose facility including two emergency department beds. On the night of 7th of January the the hospital was occupied by 18 long stay patients, 1 maternity patient and l0 acute care patients. The night duty staffing consists of three registered nurses and an enrolled nurse. The usual feeling of disbelief were experienced by the staff on hearing the news of the bus accident just 3 km from the township. This news was relayed to the hospital at 00.30 am by the town Secunty Offmer who had heard via the 2 way radio. He proceeded to the scene and called again with further details. It was his opinion that the hospital would reqmre assistance. This
created a dilemma for the staff- whether or not to call in extra staff as official notification had not been received. This problem was overcome by contacting the Ambulance Coordinauon Centre in Tamworth to gain more specific information and were told to expect two critically mjured patients and 10 walking wounded. Under the direcnon of the Health Services manager staff were called in using those who lived closest as the first contacted. Both doctors in the town were also notified. Fortunately Children's ward was empty and it was decide to use this as a temporary ward. This area became the focus of preparation such as supplies of stretchers, wheelchairs and blankets. Hasty preparations in the Emergency Department mvolved relocating resuscitation and intravenous trolleys to this area and increasing supplies of monitormg equipment, blankets, gowns and gloves. The first patient to arrive was a young boy with severe head injuries requiring resuscitation He was accompanied by his distressed teenage brother. A counsellor was used to support him while the chnical team concentrated in the resuscitation area. Shortly after this another patient requiring resuscitation arrived at which time the team was divided and the recovery area used as a second resuscitatton bay. Unfortunately both resuscitations were unsuccessful.
A total of 52 wctims were transported to the hospital by ambulance and SES personnel. Most of the physical injuries of these patients were minor in nature however all patients required emotional support and social support as in the contacting of relatives. Over the next few hours the strength of the voluntary support services became evident. Without their valuable efforts the whole experience would have had a more neganve effect on the hospttal staff mvolved. The nursing staff on duty attribute the relative calm that existed durmg the shift to the assistance of support service personnel. This also assisted 'shocked' victims to regain their equilibrium. On reflection with the limited resources available the team managed exceptionally well under these extremely difficult and tragm circumstances. EDITORS NOTE: Thankyou to the staff of
Tenterfield hospital in sharing this experience with readers of The Australian Emergency Nursing Journal. The overwhelming situation of a disaster such as this is a harrowing experience m one's career as an Emergency Nurse. The outcome however, which is evident from this account, is an appreciation of the hospitals ability to cope and the extreme importance of teamwork. This team should be congratulated.
AENJ VOLUME 1 N O . 4 MAY 1998
21
created a dilemma for the staff- whether or not to call in extra staff as official notification had not been received. This problem was overcome by contacting the Ambulance Coordinauon Centre in Tamworth to gain more specific information and were told to expect two critically mjured patients and 10 walking wounded. Under the direcnon of the Health Services manager staff were called in using those who lived closest as the first contacted. Both doctors in the town were also notified. Fortunately Children's ward was empty and it was decide to use this as a temporary ward. This area became the focus of preparation such as supplies of stretchers, wheelchairs and blankets. Hasty preparations in the Emergency Department mvolved relocating resuscitation and intravenous trolleys to this area and increasing supplies of monitormg equipment, blankets, gowns and gloves. The first patient to arrive was a young boy with severe head injuries requiring resuscitation He was accompanied by his distressed teenage brother. A counsellor was used to support him while the chnical team concentrated in the resuscitation area. Shortly after this another patient requiring resuscitation arrived at which time the team was divided and the recovery area used as a second resuscitatton bay. Unfortunately both resuscitations were unsuccessful.
A total of 52 wctims were transported to the hospital by ambulance and SES personnel. Most of the physical injuries of these patients were minor in nature however all patients required emotional support and social support as in the contacting of relatives. Over the next few hours the strength of the voluntary support services became evident. Without their valuable efforts the whole experience would have had a more neganve effect on the hospttal staff mvolved. The nursing staff on duty attribute the relative calm that existed durmg the shift to the assistance of support service personnel. This also assisted 'shocked' victims to regain their equilibrium. On reflection with the limited resources available the team managed exceptionally well under these extremely difficult and tragm circumstances. EDITORS NOTE: Thankyou to the staff of
Tenterfield hospital in sharing this experience with readers of The Australian Emergency Nursing Journal. The overwhelming situation of a disaster such as this is a harrowing experience m one's career as an Emergency Nurse. The outcome however, which is evident from this account, is an appreciation of the hospitals ability to cope and the extreme importance of teamwork. This team should be congratulated.
AENJ VOLUME 1 N O . 4 MAY 1998
21