Local emergency department staff are continuing to undertake specialty emergency medical training to help prepare them to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Part of the Emergency Medicine Education Training (EMET) program, clinicians in Northern NSW Local Health District are getting skilled in life-saving resuscitation procedures such intubation and ventilation in negative pressure rooms, practised in a simulation setting on manikins.

Byron Central Hospital Emergency Department specialist, Dr Blake Eddington, said the training is important to ensure the best care and safety practices for patients in the region.

“This training ensures frontline medical staff know how to best keep those with severe COVID symptoms alive,” Dr Eddington said.

“As well as ensuring the best medical care, it also provides our team with the latest education in best practice hygiene and infection control.”

As part of the training, clinicians wear full Personal Protective Equipment, to simulate a real-life scenario, with preparation being a key component of infection control.

EMET training, supported by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), keeps clinical staff up to date with new procedures in a dynamic, fast-changing situation and keeps our local community safe.

Emergency Medicine Education Training in Tweed/Byron is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health via ACEM.