When Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Paramedic Rosie McEachern was deployed as a first responder to Far North Queensland following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, little did she know she would be teaming up with the RFDS Telehealth team to provide essential medical treatment to a patient using a RFDS Medical Chest.
Rosie was one of two officers deployed to Cow Bay and on arrival was asked to join the Queensland Police Service (QPS) on a reconnaissance helicopter flight to Cape Tribulation.
At the time, the flooding was so severe, the Cape Tribulation community had been completely isolated from Cow Bay and all locations south of the Daintree.
“The police officer wanted a paramedic onboard to meet with community members and deliver much needed medication,” Rosie said.
“When our helicopter touched down near PK’s Jungle Village resort in Cape Tribulation some community members came to meet us.
“They were thankful for the medications and questioned how sick members of the community would be evacuated if needed.
“We didn’t have the capacity to take anyone back with us on that trip, but we asked if anyone required urgent medical assessment at the time.”
They drove Rosie to the resort where some patients needed first aid, including a local man who had significant wounds to his feet.
“This area had had such significant flooding and landslides that you could assume septic waste may have contaminated ground water sources,” Rosie said.
“When I looked at his feet, they were red and inflamed and most likely in need of antibiotics to prevent infection.
“If he was left untreated, his health may have deteriorated significantly in only a few days.”
With limited supplies available and knowing the community would have no access to a local doctor or pharmacy for weeks, Rosie called the RFDS (Queensland Section) Telehealth Service and spoke to RFDS Dr Katrina Starmer.
Katrina alerted RFDS Medical Chest Lead Elizabeth Doran and together they located a RFDS Medical Chest in Cape Tribulation and contacted the chest holder.
In true community spirit they volunteered to help and drove the medical chest to Rosie at the resort.
RFDS Medical Chests have been a safety net for Queenslanders who are isolated from a pharmacy or medical service since 1942, providing access to life-saving medications and medical supplies.
With more than 1,200 medical chests in Queensland, Elizabeth said they were very lucky to have one available in that vicinity.
“It signified the importance of the RFDS medical chest for that community,” Rosie said.
“During the floods, disaster management deployments were happening in Wujal Wujal, Cooktown and other remote parts of the Cook and Douglas Shires.
“So, when they were able to see they had access to a helicopter, rotating emergency personnel and an RFDS Medical Chest - it was reassurance that they weren’t alone.
“The flow on from this connection was greater than we ever anticipated.”
Before departing, Rosie and the RFDS Telehealth team were able to treat multiple patients at the resort using medications from the chest.
Follow-up phone appointments were then arranged for the patients with the Cow Bay Primary Health Care Clinic.
