United Voice News
Beware of drowsy ambos on the roads this Easter, union warns
The ambulance union is warning Victorians that paramedics will be some of the drowsiest drivers on the roads this Easter.
The warning comes as Victoria Police today announced a state-wide Easter campaign targeting driver fatigue.
The union is calling on Victoria’s embattled health minister Daniel Andrews to declare whether he supports proper rest-breaks between shifts for paramedics.
Paramedics often work more than 15 hours straight and then need to be back at work eight hours later. The union has found that many get just five hours sleep between their shifts.
Police today warned that driving without enough sleep is the equivalent to drink driving.
Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie said many paramedics are forced to use coffee and energy drinks to stay awake while driving.
“We surveyed 350 paramedics and found many are falling asleep driving and making clinical errors because they can’t get enough sleep between shifts.”
“This weekend paramedics will be on the frontline, doing their best to keep the Easter road toll as low as they can. They don’t want to be part of that toll.”
“For a year now we have told Daniel Andrews and Ambulance Victoria that paramedics are falling asleep driving because they can’t get enough sleep between shifts.”
“For a year Ambulance Victoria has blocked the introduction of a minimum ten-hour rest break between shifts.”
“Paramedics are pleading with the minister to listen to your police and the TAC: fatigue kills. Act now before someone dies.”
“Paramedics in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT all get ten-hour rest breaks between shifts. I am certain Victorians would want their ambos to be properly-rested too.”
McGhie said year-long pay negotiations are deadlocked and a key sticking point is the 10 hour rest break.
In a survey of 350 paramedics in June 2008, 87 percent of paramedics said the current eight hour rest break is insufficient to rest properly.
The survey also revealed that one in four paramedics get just five hours sleep or less between shifts.
