00:00Conditions might be ideal for skiing this winter, but that doesn't mean everything is guaranteed to go to plan.
00:12So this has actually been probably one of the busiest starts to the season, so already we're up over 90 jobs, incidents, that's both within the resort and backcountry jobs.
00:21There's a dedicated team of paramedics that have been based at Perisher Valley since 1986.
00:27Twenty paramedics have been working in rotation this winter season, eight days on, six days off.
00:33They might work the full three months or a couple of weeks. It's a competitive role to land.
00:38There's lots of staff that are looking to come here, that's why we have quite a stringent assessment to identify the right people with the right skill set.
00:47Some paramedics here have 25 years experience working in the Alps, but there are some fresh faces too.
00:53Trainee Charles Milne has been a paramedic for 10 years, but is working in the snow for the first time.
00:59How's the pain there? That's okay.
01:00The paramedicine remains the same, the medicine remains the same, but we have to adapt it to a challenging environment.
01:05You know, we're dealing with patients that are cold, patients that are fatigued, and obviously the weather.
01:11And then also a range of vehicles as well, getting used to working in snowmobiles and over-snow vehicles to get to our patients.
01:17Paramedics at Perisher have just received four new snowmobiles, replacing older models.
01:23The snowmobiles allow our teams to get to the patients, like a rapid responder, so like a motorbike or a single responder, is to get to the patients in a timely manner.
01:32As well as the four new snowmobiles, paramedics here at Perisher also have access to two larger over-snow vehicles.
01:38The fleet is vital for them to access injured patients, not only in the backcountry, but on the slopes.
01:46Falls, crashes, whether it be into other people, fall onto snow, snowboarders, skiers, into trees, seeing fractures, chest injuries, head injuries, those types of things.
01:58Amid the challenges of the job, Charles is finding the reward in helping others.
02:02When, you know, family members meet us at the bottom of the hill or as we're loading into the ambulance, there's, you know, lots of thanks.
02:09But, you know, up here, obviously, people on holidays.
02:11So that added stress for them, and I think when we're able to take that stress away and tell them their relative's going to be okay
02:16and that we're going to get them off to the care they need, that's hugely beneficial.
02:20Right to go, Charlie?
02:20Yeah, good to go.
02:21Thanks, Mark.
02:21Hoping those on the slopes stay safe for the remainder of the winter season.
02:25Go!
02:26Yay!
02:26Yay!
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