For those who live, travel or work remotely, an RFDS medical chest can be a lifeline.
There are more than 600 medical chests dotted at remote locations across WA including homesteads, pastoral stations, roadhouses, national parks and mine sites.
A medical chest is a lockable steel box containing a wide range of medicines which enables access to emergency and non-emergency treatment. An RFDS doctor consults with the patient or carer via telehealth and prescribes appropriate medication from the on-site chest, preventing them from potentially having to drive hundreds of kilometres to the nearest town.
RFDS Dr Hakan Yaman has been the telehealth consultant for countless patients needing access to a medical chest for a wide range of conditions, including allergic reactions or prescription painkillers following a severe injury.
The Perth-based doctor never expected his own family to need access to a medical chest.
Dr Hakan, his wife Sally and sons Alby, Orson and Artie were among three families travelling together on the Gibb River Road in the WA’s north when the unthinkable happened. The group was cooking dinner at the Mitchell Falls campsite when a piercing scream rang out in the darkness.
Artie had fallen backwards into the campfire.
We didn’t know where his burns were or how serious it was but we found a bucket of water and shoved him in it.
Dr Hakan
Artie was very lucky – he had suffered burns to his back and arm, and it didn’t require a skin graft or require retrieval by the RFDS. If he had fallen face first, it would have been a life-changing event.
The group was able to continue on their Kimberley adventure. Artie’s burns required analgesia and a change of dressings every few days, so the family dropped into three different locations with a medical chest as they continued to make their way north.
“Knowing that access to medical chests was available was amazing for us and it was great talking to the custodians,” Dr Hakan said. “They were so proud to be the ones providing help if people need it.”
To apply to become a Medical Chest Custodian call 08 9417 6300 or email medicalchests@rfdswa.com.au
