A Dangerous Game: The Unravelling of The St John and NZ fire Service Relationship
"Putting Out The Flames" (Part 3) looks at how to help fire fighters with PTSD and other mental issues & whether you will get help from a 111 call. Warning: R18: Contains content that may disturb.
Warning: The following article deals with the topics of suicide and self-harm and may distress some readers. If anything contained in this article causes distress of any kind, it is recommended you call the Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 or one of the other helplines at on the Mental Health Foundation website.
Russian roulette is simple when said aloud. Take one gun and load a single bullet into the chamber. Spin the barrel and then cock the weapon. Place it against one’s head.
And then pull the trigger.
The dangerous game here comes as a desperate 111-call made by a family member seeking help. The caller asks for “ambulance”.
There is no guarantee an ambulance will come. Instead it might be a fire truck that arrives. Emphasis on “might”.
If they do turn up, they come armed only with first aid training and a pat on the back for the injured party.
In episode 2 of the “Putting Out The Flames” series, we heard from New Zealand Professional Fire Fighters Union National President, Joe Stanley, and local representative, Aaron McKay. Among the challenges they mentioned facing the NZ Fire Service, they spoke at length of the relationship it has with another stretched frontline service St John.
For this article, we go in depth into the challenges and see what work is being done in the space of fire fighter mental wellbeing.
In his view, St John’s are in control “Of that 16,000 people”. 16,000 free labour units across the country”.
Joe elaborates.
“We’re a tool - a tool to be used by St John and they apply us where they see fit. I’ve lifted a 60-kg man because the two St John’s ambulance workers couldn’t sit him up. We were called. An entire fire truck of 4 fire fighters was sent to a guy’s lounge, because they couldn’t sit him up.”
Joe is adamant that the fire service is not trained to handle St John’s callouts. They only have basic fire aid training under their belts, and that there are times when, while waiting for an ambulance, St. John’s doesn’t turn up. Joe
“Yes. Yip, all the time.”
Joe explains the NZ Fire Service doesn’t record how many St John’s no-shows occur. Instead, when they go to a callout, St John’s records it. “So they won’t have any stats of not attending because when we turn up,” says Aaron.
“When we turn up, when a fire truck turns up and we put in a code to say we’re there, St John’s then log it as they’re there. Because their subcontractors have turned up.”
Describing the fire service as a ‘subcontractor’ was unexpected.
“So even if they don’t turn up, they’ve turned up,” says Joe. “Unless someone has specifically said in their report ‘oh, we turned up, but St. John didn’t arrive and we provided you know CPR or whatever.”
The NZ Fire Service’s input has had an impact. Though that’s not to be unexpected.
“So their arrival times would have gone down since 2014,” says Aaron.
“Because they can’t get an ambulance there in 20 minutes and we can in 6, then obviously we’re pulling their numbers down.”
“And they’ve even admitted that their cardiac arrests percentages successes have gone up since we’ve been doing it”.
“So again we don’t begrudge doing the work, because it’s obviously it’s making a difference in the community.”
This line is something that Aaron and Joe both reiterate during the interview. There is no apparent bitterness but one cannot help but wonder on their part.
“They can claim our successes as [theirs],” says Aaron.
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