On a busy day just before the most recent lockdown, Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Falls Creek Unit volunteers performed three different snow rescues.
All incidents involved members of school groups which had been camping near the Falls Creek resort.
VICSES Falls Creek unit controller Craig Moegel said its volunteers were called to assist police in search and rescue, and patient extraction.
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“At 11.01 am our VICSES volunteers were called to their first job, to assist police with a teen who had injured themselves in the snow,” Mr Moegel said.
“The crew was made up of the VICSES volunteers and two Victoria Police members.
“Our volunteers attended in snowmobiles and provided first-aid at the scene, before taking the teen to a medical centre close by in Falls Creek.”
A second incident occurred about 4 pm when another teen also fell, sustaining injuries which rendered the patient unable to ride on the snowmobile.
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Though a non-ambulatory case, the teen was spinally immobilised with a backboard, and secured in the trailer for transport to Falls Creek Medical Centre.
The third incident for the day, flagged by Victoria Police shortly before 10 pm, related to another teen who had been camping overnight as part of a school group, and had dislocated their knee.
Though the group had co-ordinates of their location, the location at Watchbed Creek lay about 10 km from the unit along Paul’s Track — a cross-country trail.
The location necessitated a lengthy trip by snowmobile.
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“Conditions were favourable with a clear night providing visibility, and our volunteers were able to successfully get the teen back to medical care,” Mr Moegel said.
“Persons who are intending a trip out into the high plains should ensure they have the proper safety equipment, warm clothing, navigation skills, at a minimum one form of communication — like a working mobile phone — and a back-up battery,” Mr Moegel said.
VICSES Falls Creek volunteer Anthony Johnson urged visitors to take precautions.
“Just make sure you know the co-ordinates of where you are,” Mr Johnson said
“This makes it easier for us to find you quickly.”
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