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Last Wednesday, local emergency service workers and volunteers held a multi-agency training scenario based on a motor vehicle accident involving a bus and a car.
"Many visitors come to Mansfield on buses," said Mansfield SES unit controller Roslyn Fauvel explaining the choice of scenario.
"The shire offers a wide range of activities for locals and visitors to enjoy.
"The Mansfield SES trains each week to ensure that our volunteers are able to respond efficiently to the many emergencies that may occur in the pursuit of these activities or just in day-to-day life."
Jamieson's Leading Senior Constable George Crawford worked with team leaders from Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, CFA and SES to plan the event.
"Each agency calmly and professionally undertook their roles," said Ms Fauvel.
"Police being the control agency for road accidents, worked closely with the commanders of each agency."
About 70 emergency service members and 14 vehicles were involved in the scenario.
Training opportunities included:
looking for hazards (powerlines on the car, debris scattered around, leaking fuel);
preserving the scene to determine the cause of the accident;
traffic management;
lighting;
stabilising the vehicles;
preventing fires; gaining access to the casualties in the bus using the “jaws of life”;
extricating casualties, triaging and treating casualties;
and organising transport to hospital (ambulance, helicopter HEMS).
"These training opportunities are extremely valuable for our emergency service responders," said Ms Fauvel.
"It helps members to understand the roles each agency plays, refine their own practices and to discuss best practice."
Ms Fauvel extended her gratitude to all involved - the Victoria Police, Mansfield Ambulance Paramedics, CFA from Maindample, Bonnie Doon and Mount Buller along with Mansfield SES.
"Our community is very fortunate to have so many dedicated people to support us in times of need," she said.
"A special thank you to Mt Buller Bus Lines for providing a bus for the training exercise."