Toowoomba quartet receives Royal Life Saving Society Australia honour

Split-second rescue and resuscitation actions by four Toowoomba residents at two city swimming pools earlier this year and in 2017 today were recognised by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA).

Toowoomba Masters Swim club members Marcus Ford and Lionel Scotney were inducted to the Australian Resuscitation Club along with Dr Shayne Baker OAM and Toni Rice, Toowoomba Regional Council’s senior lifeguard at the Milne Bay Aquatic Centre. Dr Baker also is the RLSSA national education and training adviser and the president of Downs Little Lifeguards, a drowning prevention and water safety program.

Royal Life Saving Society Queensland branch Executive Director Paul Barry and RLSSA national medical adviser Professor John Pearn AM inducted the Toowoomba quartet to the Australian Resuscitation Club at Milne Bay Aquatic Centre.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio praised the efforts by all four rescuers.

“Each of the new inductees showed a calm temperament and was able to focus on the skills gained through extensive training to start rescue and resuscitation procedures on two members of the public who required urgent assistance,” Mayor Antonio said.

Mr Barry said the Society was pleased to admit the four new members to the Australian Resuscitation Club.

“This honour highlights how anyone can apply their cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills to save a life or give a person the best chance of surviving a life-threatening situation,” Mr Barry said.

“Research supports the need for a swift response to start a rescue and CPR in providing the best possible chance of survival.

“CPR is a vital skill which people can use anytime, anywhere to potentially save a life.

“The Resuscitation Club was established to acknowledge citizens who have attempted to save a life of a fellow resident by applying CPR.”

Professor Pearn said the benefits of learning basic CPR skills meant that in the event of a car accident, being knocked off a bike or receiving a head injury there was a one in 12 chance that the first person on the scene would have the competency to render first aid.

He said the figure was as good as anywhere in the world.

“Who are we going to help?,” Professor Pearn asked.

“One-third of the people are likely to be our loved ones, one-third are likely to be people we know well and the other third could be workmates.

“People with these skills are more likely to step forward in the first 90 seconds to two minutes when this intervention is crucial when saving a life.

“Even if the resuscitation attempt is unsuccessful, it offers a grieving family some comfort to think that every effort was made to save their oved one.”

Toowoomba Regional Council Community Development and Facilities portfolio leader Cr McDonald said the new inductees had displayed cool, clear thinking by following the skills taught during their training.

“People first need the knowledge and then have the presence of mind to apply CPR when a life-threatening event occurs,” Cr McDonald said.

“It is especially gratifying that the actions of our four inductees are being recognised by the RLSSA.”

The four recipients were presented with a numbered medal, lapel pin and a certificate of membership to the Australian Resuscitation Club.

In 2017, TRC’s senior lifeguard Toni Rice and team members rescued a young man with Down syndrome, who was discovered motionless in the deep end of the 50m outdoor pool.

Mrs Rice started one-operator CPR and was quickly assisted by Dr Baker. The young man was revived and following a medical check has survived with no subsequent health issues.

In the second incident, Toowoomba Masters Swim Club members Marcus Ford and Lionel Scotney performed a rescue on a fellow club member who suffered a medical episode at a club meet at the Glennie Aquatic Centre in July this year.

Their quick actions and application of CPR allowed paramedics to transport the woman to hospital, but sadly she did not survive.

Caption: Top:Newly inducted Australian Resuscitation Club members (from left) Marcus Ford, Lionel Scotney, Dr Shayne Baker OAM and Toni Rice with their awards. Mr Ford and Dr Baker were receiving their second awards. The medallion inscription, in Latin, translates to 'That the body may be restored to llife'.

Below: Toowoomba Masters Swim club members Marcus Ford (second from left) and Lionel Scotney, Dr Shayne Baker OAM and TRC’s senior lifeguard at the Milne Bay Aquatic Centre Toni Rice are inducted to the Australian Resuscitation Club by Royal Lifesaving Society Queensland branch Executive Director Paul Barry (right)  and RLSSA national medical adviser Professor John Pearn AM (second from right) with the assistance of Cr Geoff McDonald (left).