Students from Monash University’s School of Rural Health have visited Paynesville brigade to learn about the vital role health monitoring plays in supporting firefighter health and safety.
The medical students enjoyed a presentation from brigade member and head of the Paynesville rehab unit Darryl Sutton about the role of CFA’s rehabilitation units during the fire season.
Members of the brigade’s rehab team then took the budding health professionals through a full firefighter health check.
The visit was organised as part of a program that encourages medical students to experience rural community life.
Throughout the program they learn about emergency procedures for fires, floods and other disasters, and gain an appreciation and understanding of small communities and how they work together with limited resources.
The students took a lot away from the visit including gaining a greater appreciation of the toll firefighting can take on health and safety as well as the important role rehabilitation and health checks play on the fireground.
They were also impressed by the varied roles of brigade members with one student saying: “I can’t believe they are all volunteers!”
