Initial Response

1. Ensure scene safety.
2. Stop convoy.
3. Assign Incident Controller.
4. Conduct primary survey:
   • Airway
   • Breathing
   • Circulation
   • Disability
   • Exposure

Secondary Assessment

Record:

• • Pulse
  • Respiratory rate
  • Blood pressure (if available)
  • Conscious state
  • Mechanism of injury

RFDS Activation Criteria

Contact RFDS immediately for:

• Chest pain.
• Suspected heart attack.
• Suspected stroke.
• Severe trauma.
• Major fracture.
• Snake bite with symptoms.
• Severe burns.
• Heat stroke.
• Altered consciousness.
• Serious allergic reaction.

RFDS Emergency:
1800 625 800

Information to provide:

• • GPS coordinates.
  • Number of casualties.
  • Nature of injury.
  • Vital signs.
  • Communications capability.
  • Landing area availability.

Aeromedical Evacuation

Potential Evacuation Locations

Major medical centres along the route include:

Location	Facility
Carnarvon	Carnarvon Hospital
Geraldton	Geraldton Regional Hospital
Meekatharra	Meekatharra Health Service
Warburton	Warburton Health Service
Yulara	Medical Clinic
Alice Springs	Alice Springs Hospital
Birdsville	Birdsville Clinic
Innamincka	Remote nursing services (availability varies)
Bourke	Bourke Hospital
Goondiwindi	Goondiwindi Hospital
Byron Bay	Byron Central Hospital services / Ballina Base Hospital

A detailed list of hospitals (with coordinates and contact number) will be included in the GPX file.

Communications Hierarchy

Priority 1

Starlink voice call.

• Starlink and PLB available as communications and emergency support layer

Priority 2

Emergency services via satellite call.

Priority 3

RFDS.

Priority 4

PLB activation.

PLB activation criteria:

• • Immediate threat to life.
  • Serious injury.
  • Inability to self-evacuate.
  • Escalating medical risk.

Casualty Evacuation Categories

Category 1 – Minor

Examples:

• Small cuts.
• Minor burns.
• Minor illness.

Treatment onsite.

Continue expedition.

Category 2 – Moderate

Examples:

• Suspected fracture.
• Significant laceration.
• Persistent illness.

Transport to nearest medical facility.

Category 3 – Serious

Examples:

• Cardiac symptoms.
• Stroke symptoms.
• Major trauma.
• Heat stroke.

RFDS consultation and evacuation.

Category 4 – Critical

Examples:

• Cardiac arrest.
• Unconscious casualty.
• Major bleeding.
• Severe head injury.

Immediate RFDS notification and PLB activation.

 

Return to Across Australia Medical Plan.