NZMATNewsletter

December 2014Issue 5

Picture of the aftermath of severe flash flooding in the Solomon Islands as a result of Cyclone Ita in April 2014

Upcoming Cyclone Season Update Inside this issue

South West Pacific Region Foreword 2

The Pacific cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April. On average, there are 9 tropical cyclones per season.

Pacific tropical cyclones are grouped into categories ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most dangerous. Category 1 cyclones have wind speeds of 63 - 88 km/h, while category 5 cyclones have wind speeds of 200 km/h plus. Cyclones can also produce a storm surge - a large mound of water that accompanies the cyclone as it comes ashore, which can have similar effects as a tsunami. The storm surge during Typhoon Haiyan that ran ashore in Tacloban was over 5m high.

Drawing on information from 8 similar previous seasons, and other current weather patterns, forecasts from the NZ Met Service for the 2014/15 season suggest that the number of cyclones would be in the average range of 9 across the Pacific. The NZ Met Service forecasts that approximately 4 cyclones could reach either a Category 3 or 4. A Category 5 is likely to be uncommon, but cannot be discounted either. This season could see normal cyclone numbers for most Pacific Islands countries, with a slightly elevated number for Tuvalu, Tokelau, Samoa, Niue and Southern Cooks, and a slightly reduced number for Vanuatu and New Caledonia

Get to know the Reference Group members

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In preparation for deployment 5

What is NZMAT up to? 8

Professional Indemnity 8

Inaugural AusMAT PerioperativeNursing course

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AusMAT Surgical & Anaesthetic course

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Upcoming Conferences 13

Are you ready for deployment? 14

Foreword: Director Emergency Management, Charles Blanch – Ministry of Health

The last six months have been busy for those working in on Ebola Virus Disease readiness within the New Zealand health sector. Whilst New Zealand domestic readiness for pandemics and other emerging infectious diseases has been focussed on some of the unique challenges around the very low likelihood of an imported EVD case I’ve also been watching with interest the growing coordination efforts in support of the UNMEER and WHO response in West Africa. A significant international medical response is underway with many of the same challenges of a sudden onset disaster including civilian military cooperation, deployment of government and non-government teams and evolving command and control structures however some of the unique challenges have been the

size and depth of infrastructure required to safely and effectively operate large Ebola Treatment Centre or provide appropriate medevac or in country treatment facilities to enable international organisations to be confident in deploying their staff. The WHO FMT minimum standards, available here, http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/fmt_guidelines_september2013.pdf are being used to provide the general principles for organisations looking to deploy. Reviews of the FMT response to Typhoon Haiyan identified that these standards were being used as default standards for many teams operating outside the trauma and surgical response to the disaster. The challenge for the international FMT community going forward will be to consider the applicability of the current standards to other disasters, not least the response to acute public health emergencies.I’ve been privileged to hear presentations from several New Zealand Red Cross delegates who’ve returned from Sierra Leone and I’d encourage you to take any opportunity to hear from colleagues who’ve returned from the affected countries. Over the next six months we have staff from the sector deploying with MSF, NZ Red Cross and Aspen Medical as well as a number of smaller NGOs and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish them all well on their missions and the rest of you an enjoyable Christmas and New Year. I’m looking forward to working with more of you in 2015.

Visit the NZMAT Website @ http://www.health.govt.nz/nzmat

E-Learning CourseInterested in expanding your knowledge around the Sphere Project – Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response?The Sphere Project has an E-learning course available – Sphere Handbook in Action – which aims to strengthen the effective use of the Sphere Handbook.Taking the course is free of charge. No academic qualifications are required. Each person may take the course at her or his own pace.The course brings the Handbook to life through the use of realistic scenarios, helping the learner to get acquainted with its core messages and to understand how to use it holistically.

For more information go to:http://www.sphereproject.org/learning/e-learning-course/

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Here’s wishing you all the joys of the

season.

The NZMAT Reference Group wishes all NZMAT

Volunteers & Members and their

families a Merry Christmas!

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NZMAT Reference GroupThe NZMAT Reference Group is accountable to the Director of Emergency Management, NZ Ministry of Health.

The objectives of the NZMAT Reference Group are to advise on:1. The purpose and function of NZMAT

and the scope of its operations2. The recruitment and selection process

and criteria for NZMAT volunteers3. The development and selection of

NZMAT work-stream group members and their work outputs

4. Operational documentation associated with the NZMAT, including standard operating procedures

Get to know the NZMAT Reference Group Members

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew C Dunn, Director of Health Services for Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand, MNZM, ED, RNZAMC

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Dunn was born in Christchurch in October 1961. Lieutenant Colonel Dunn commenced medical training on completion of his secondary education at Christ’s College. He graduated in December 1985 from Otago University with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.Lieutenant Colonel Dunn enlisted into the Territorial Force in November 1980 and servedwith 3 Field Ambulance until 1996 as a Medical Officer. He was

5. Other existing and potential issues that affect the formation or deployment of a NZMAT

6. Suitable options for managing any issues

NZMAT Reference Group Membership includes representatives from Ministry of Health Emergency Management team, Counties Manukau Health, Pasifika Medical Association, NZ Fire Service —Urban Search and Rescue and the NZ Defense Force.

awarded the Efficiency Decoration in 1996. From 1991 he was working as a family physician in Christchurch and the West Coast of the South Island.Lieutenant Colonel Dunn transferred to the Regular Force in March 1996 into the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps in the rank of Major, and assumed the appointment of Regimental Medical Officer, 2nd/1st Battalion, RNZIR, Burnham Military Camp. Lieutenant Colonel Dunn continued to serve with the Battalion including a 7 month tour of duty in East Timor where he served as the Regimental Medical Officer, (NZ Batt) and Commander of the Forward Surgical Team, United Nations Force East Timor (NZUNTAET), with the New Zealand Battalion Group (NZBATT2).In December 2001 Lieutenant Colonel Dunn held the appointment of Senior Medical Officer 3 Field Ambulance. In June 2002 he assumed the appointment as the Director of Army Health Services (equivalent to the Surgeon General of the Army) and moved to Army Headquarters with this appointment to Wellington in March 2003. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in July 2002. In December 2012 he was posted as J1 Health, responsible for health NZDF personnel on overseas missions.

In September 1998 he was made a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Lieutenant Colonel Dunn completed the Diploma in Aviation Medicine in 1999, and the London Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2002. In 2007 he was appointed to the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Board of Education. He is Deputy Chairman of Medic Alert (New Zealand).In 2011 he completed the United States Medical Strategic Leadership Programme at the Academy of Health Sciences, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.Lieutenant Colonel Dunn was awarded the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), (Additional) in the 2001 Queens Birthday Honours for his role in East Timor.Lieutenant Colonel Dunn is married to Anna and they have two daughters, Philippa and Emily.His hobbies include fly fishing and game hunting.

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In Preparation for a NZMAT DeploymentDr Chris Jephcott, Anaesthetist, Waikato District Health BoardThe military has a saying “Train hard, fight easy”, in other words, when preparing to work in an unpredictable, unfamiliar and challenging environment, the more regular focused training that individuals undergo in preparation, the more likely they are to achieve success when the time comes to act.There are parallels with our roles as NZMAT team members. Our involvement is likely to be occasional, at short notice and into settings outside many of our experience or comfort zones.In anticipation of this, over the last 2 years I have undertaken a number of courses that have relevance to my role as an anaesthetist in a potential disaster zone. Many of these have been invaluable in preparing me for a potential deployment.I have been asked me to summarize some of these courses so that other NZMAT members can reflect on whether they would be applicable to their own individual roles as part of a NZMAT response.

NZMAT Team Member (TM) CourseRun annually in Rotorua the TM course is a pre-requisite to being selected for deployment with NZMAT.Run by an excellent faculty with representatives from AusMAT/ NZMAT/ Pasifika Medical Association/ Ministry of Health/ Counties Manukau Health/ NZ Fire Service and Global

Frontline, the 3 day course covers a wide range of elements relevant to a deployment into a disaster zone, including process of activation, kit list, navigation, communications, negotiation, cultural aspects, weapons awareness and convoy/ checkpoint protocols.The course culminates in a 24-hour field exercise that incorporates the classroom learning into a high fidelity simulation. More details of this have been covered in previous newsletters.This course allows participants to immerse themselves in a simulated ‘disaster’ environment and to consider whether this is the sort of work they would be prepared to undertake should the necessity arise.AusMAT Surgical and Anaesthetic (SAC) courseMainly relevant to surgeons and anaesthetists deploying with a field hospital facility (such as last year’s Philippines mission) this 4-day course is run every year from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) in Darwin. NZMAT is usually allocated 3-4 places on this highly rated course.The course reviews and builds on elements of the TM course but has more of a surgical theme than the generic TM course.The faculty is excellent, enthusiastic and vastly experienced, most having undertaken several deployments to natural and man-made disaster events. There is great learning from the first-hand experience of these individuals.The course is more intense than the TM course with long days of initially classroom-based work. From day 2 the surgeons and anaesthetists are streamed into relevant practical modules. For anaesthetists this included paediatric/ obstetric anaesthesia in the austere environment, blood grouping and infectious disease screening. There is also a very useful session orientating us around the anaesthetic machines and monitors that AusMAT take on missions with them. This allayed some of the anxiety of deploying into a difficult environment with unfamiliar equipment. For the surgeons this element of the course included the surgical aspects of limb salvage, neurotrauma and burns, ballistics of wounding and maxillofacial/ ophthalmic injuries.The field exercise was, once again, more demanding than on the TM course, not least because of the Northern Territories pretty inhospitable climate (at least for an ex-Pom). This component was extraordinarily well coordinated culminating in a full field hospital simulation (set up by the tireless Northern Territory Loggies). This

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phase provided some unique learning opportunities for both surgeons and anaesthetists. (I am being deliberately vague so as to not spoil some of the learning opportunities for future participants).Overall, an invaluable course that provides an excellent opportunity to gain confidence in the many aspects of a surgical response to a disaster event.

Red-R: Essentials of Humanitarian Practice (EHP) and Personal Security and Communications (PSC) coursesRed-R is a world-renowned training group that trains and deploys personnel into disaster and war-zones.Run from Dookie, Victoria these two quite different but complementary courses provide an invaluable insight into the logistics, legal framework and interagency cooperation required for a successful humanitarian mission as well as the personal skills and attributes required to operate

effectively in this environment.The EHP course lasts 5 days and is run by a wonderfully passionate group that have spent extended periods of time, in some cases whole careers, in the humanitarian sector. It covers a vast syllabus relevant to such a mission.

A significant portion of the EHP course is devoted to understanding the background to and implementation of the Sphere Project, which is a widely utilized tool for framing the Humanitarian Charter, and for identifying the minimum standards required for key elements of a humanitarian response: Water and sanitation/ hygiene, shelter, food security/ nutrition and health action. It also focuses on interagency cooperation and the ‘cluster’ approach to an effective and efficient response.There is a lot of classroom work, interactive lectures, tabletop exercises, group discussion as well as a practical (GPS and communications, site planning) component. The course culminates with a full day simulation of a multiagency response to a refugee crisis. Very well run (and pretty stressful) but an excellent way to reinforce the more theoretical aspects of the preceding days.Overall, quite an exhausting few days (mostly 10-12hr days) but absolutely invaluable in providing an understanding of the framework, and the key elements of a successful major disaster or humanitarian crisis response.The 3-day PSC course (often scheduled to follow on from EHP course) focuses on very different elements of a deployment and as such provides a welcome balance to the EHP course.There is far less theory and a far more ‘in your face’ experiential approach, which can be quite confronting, but is essential in preparing individuals for a deployment into a potentially hostile environment.Recent events in Iraq and Syria have demonstrated the vulnerability of aid workers in these environments and much of the course considers the personal and organizational approaches to mitigating some of these risks.Areas covered include: security context, field security, weapons awareness, risk assessment, hostile negotiation, kidnap and hostage survival and stress management.The course is immersive and physical from start to finish with multiple practical simulations providing an opportunity for participants to assess how they respond to challenging and unpredictable events.I would highly recommend this course to anyone planning to deploy to a potentially insecure situation.Major Incident Management and Medical Support (MIMMS) Commander CourseThis is an Advanced Life Support accredited course that is run from a number of Australasian locations including the NCCTRC in Darwin.The Darwin course is run by an extremely experienced faculty and revolves around the structured and coordinated multiagency (police, fire, ambulance, medical) approach to the mass casualty situation.There is some overlap without NZMAT role in so far as we are likely, at least in the initial phase of a response, to be confronted with more casualties than we have the resource to treat. Effective triage sieving and sorting is an unfamiliar skill to many of us, and this is one of the key focuses of this course, along with scene management, effective radio communication (learn your phonetic alphabet!), situation reports and approach to the media.

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There is some preparatory work to do for the course including a pretty comprehensive manual, and the skills learnt during the 3-day course are formally assessed (written and practical) on the second day. The final day is spent undertaking field exercises that apply the knowledge acquired during the previous 2 days.A really worthwhile course for anyone who may find himself or herself part of a mass casualty response situation (which is probably most of us).Real World Anaesthesia CourseAimed at anaesthetists planning either short or long term missions into the austere medical environment. This annual 5-day course rotates between Darwin, Victoria and Christchurch and draws experience from a highly motivated and inspiring international faculty.Incorporates a mixture of theoretical and practical sessions, covering drawover anaesthesia, equipment maintenance and sterilisation, ketamine, tropical medicine and obstetrics/ paediatrics/ difficult airway anaesthesia.There are daily sessions that provide the unique opportunity to practice real life drawover anaesthesia using a variety of systems and volatile anaesthetic agents.Any anaesthetist planning to work in the ‘real world’ should seriously consider this course. Very popular and over-

subscribed so get in early…..Other useful and relevant courses (in brief):

Essential aspects of Aeromedical retrievalA 3-day course run by the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service. Focus is on pre-hospital patient assessment/management/ packaging and transport. Highlight is the excellent simulation session.Detailed review of the course by Dr Tim Leeuwenburg: kidocs.org/2013/11/rfds-star-course/

Advanced Wilderness Life Support Course5-day course run by Southern Wilderness Medical Group, based in beautiful Queenstown.Focus is on adapting conventional medical skills of patient assessment, stabilization and extraction to the resource poor environment.A mixture of classroom and practical sessions. Enjoyable and stimulating, and a great excuse to escape to Queenstown…More details: wildmed.co.nzI’m sure that there are plenty more excellent and relevant courses out there that can help to prepare us to respond effectively to a disaster event. These are the few that I have participated in and I hope that this summary provides some guidance for those looking to develop their skills and utility in this area.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

To be considered for a NZMAT deployment you need:

To be registered on the NZMAT Volunteer Database

A valid passport, valid for at least 6 months prior to expiry date

Up-to-date vaccinations

For more information regarding deployment requirements, please review the NZMAT Operations Manual which can be found at: http://www.health.govt.nz/nzmat

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What is NZMAT up to?Behind the scenes there is a hive of activity being undertaken, which includes:

Work continues on converting the NZMAT Operational Manual into the National NZMAT Manual – Preparedness, deployment and post-deployment activities of New Zealand Medical Assistance Teams (NZMAT) domestically and internationally. This manual will provide comprehensive information regarding NZMAT at the strategic level as well as practical information for NZMAT members.

Continued work around identifying equipment and medical consumables supplies required to support a NZMAT deployment

Planning is well underway for the two NZMAT Team Member courses scheduled for April / May 2015

Work continues to develop memorandums of understandings with both the NZ Defence Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

Trade regarding NZMAT deployments Preparations are underway for the ‘go-live’ of a new NZMAT database

in February 2015 which will be used to manage trained NZMAT members information as well as document NZMAT deployments, training courses and provide a mechanism for NZMAT members to communicate via a ‘message board’ with each other as well as NZMAT management personnel.

‘Team Alpha’ members getting a pre-deployment briefing from Sarah McDonald from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade prior to departure to the Solomon Islands in April 2014

Professional Indemnity on Deployment – are you covered?NZMAT Personnel Responsibilities:The 2014 – 2015 South Pacific cyclone season has officially commenced and met services have already issued warnings that this season will experience extreme weather.The Ministry of Health has arrangements with the Medical Protection Societry and New Zealand Nurses Organisation to extend indemnity cover to personnel deployed on an NZMAT mission. The Ministry also arranges commercial travel insurance, including additional cover where required (for example during the deployment of NZMAT personnel within AUSMAT to Tacloban last year additional cover was required as Safe Travel website had listed it as an Extreme Risk which voids normal travel policies).

If you haven’t already done so, NZMAT management strongly encourages all NZMAT personnel to confirm their professional indemnity coverage while on deployment with their professional body or employer.

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Inaugural AUSMAT Perioperative Nursing Course – June 2014Emma Brooks, RN, BN, PGC Specialty Perioperative Nursing, Wellington & Kenepuru Hospital Operating Theatres, Capital & Coast DHB, Wellington Representative & National Treasurer, National Committee for the NZ Perioperative Nurses College

I was fortunate enough to attend the inaugural AusMAT perioperative nurses course in Darwin in June 2014.The course faculty was a hugely experienced mix of Australians from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) at the Royal Darwin Hospital. The NCCTRC faculty staff developed the course with the perioperative nurses who deployed to Tacloban in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan in late 2013.This course was developed following the Tacloban experience where the team learned many lessons from this first deployment of the AusMAT field surgical hospital.

The course was made up of two parts – generic AusMAT Team Member* training and perioperative training that was based over four days and included classroom lectures, practical outdoor exercises, group work in class, skills

stations, a surgical caseload simulation exercise and an immersion exercise with an overnight camp in the desert. * This is the same as NZMAT Team Member training.There were 23 participants on this course and the group of delegates was made up of five nurses from Pacific countries (Vanuatu, Tonga, Cook Islands and Fiji), two NZ nurses (c/o NZMAT) and 15 nurses from all around Australia. Three extra local nurses popped in just for the perioperative lessons. The course participants were a mixture of anaesthetic, post-anaesthetic care and operating theatre nurses.We stayed at the Rydges Airport Resort Hotel but we had no time to enjoy the facilities due to long working days, early starts and evening activities. The first night we had a course dinner at the Darwin Sailing Club on Mindil Beach to get to know each other better, meet the faculty staff and enjoy the lovely sunset. On the last night we had a visit arranged to the famous markets at Mindil Beach to experience ‘Darwin Life’. We enjoyed shopping for local crafts, tasting exotic foods, watching death defying fire eating, dancing, knife throwing and whip routines as well as listening to local musicians including one mastering seven didgeridoos at once!

AusMAT field hospital under construction – June 2014 Some lectures were conducted out in the ‘field’ – June 2014

Perioperative ContentThis covered the essential elements of field surgical practice and gave the core necessary skills to make the transition from day-to-day practice to being a key member of the disaster surgical team.

Medical ethics in austere conditions Principles of perioperative nursing in austere

conditions Overview of AusMAT perioperative working

conditions

Principles of sterilisation Anaesthetics in austere conditions Stress management in austere conditions Principles of waste management Surgical caseload simulation exercise

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Skills stations Orthopaedic surgery & limb management General surgery & wound management Anaesthetics NATO operating table Instruments and trays

Medical devices familiarisation Clinical footprint of an operating theatre tent Sterilisation

- Decontamination process- Sterilisation techniques- Sterilisation processes- The sterilisers

The skills sessions were invaluable as we had the opportunity to play around with how we would set up and use equipment as well as building and setting out the “Blue Med” OPEC tent as the operating theatre suite. This course has widened my skill set and increased my confidence to deploy on behalf of NZMAT in austere conditions if requested.From my point of view there were several highlights of the course:

1. Meeting and networking with members of the NCCTRC and interpersonal connections with these NCCTRC staff members will likely prove beneficial over time.

2. Meeting and learning from renown international faculty members who have such vast experience.

3. Meeting and networking with the nurses from the Pacific Islands and Australia who attended the course.4. The practical skills stations were exceptionally well designed and they allowed delegates maximal exposure

to unfamiliar skills and techniques using basic equipment.5. The field exercise was a highlight in itself and the planning and attention that went into the exercise was

hugely impressive. I was allocated the ‘Chief Logi’ role for the ‘mission’ and I promise I will never ever ever forget toilet paper from the pre-deployment inventory list! Promise!

6. The camp presentation ‘Stories from the Field- Tacloban’ by the nurses who were there is the one presentation that will forever remain imbedded in my mind and has given me valuable insight to how it can be.

The AusMAT perioperative nurses course was a very valuable experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to attend and many thanks to Charlie, Martin, Judy, Vicky et al for their energy and commitment to NZMAT and all the AusMAT team for their hard work on a course well done.

Surgical equipment & supplies transported in space cases Example of tent layout set up in the classroom

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Megann Devereux, RN, Vascular & Acute Service, Wellington Regional Hospital, Capital & Coast DHB

In June 2014, I had the privilege of joining with 21 other perioperative nurses from across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to attend the first AUSMAT perioperative course in Darwin.Held at the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC), this was a 4-day course which built on the standard 3-day team member training and devoted extra time to focus on skills specific to the perioperative area – aspects of setting up the “Blue Med” (theatre facility), assembling & dismantling NATO operating tables, available instrumentation & consumables, sterilisation, and anaesthesia in austere environments, to name just a few.The first two days of this course were devoted to aspects of working in the field relevant to all AUSMAT team members, and covered an array of topics including safety & security, navigation & communications, hostile negotiation etc. Many of these lectures were delivered by visiting specialists and their input added greatly to our

learning.Day 3 involved a field exercise of a simulated AUSMAT team deployment. There is not space enough here for me to expand on what this entailed, but may I use the word (frequently overused, but not in this case), AWESOME!! An action-packed, once-in-a-lifetime experience, not to be missed.The point of difference with this course was the extra day which allowed time for us to focus on skills specific to perioperative requirements. We were lucky to have nurses who have recently deployed with AUSMAT to the Philippines who were able to share their experience with us. It is hard to imagine going into the field as a Theatre nurse without this information – there's just so much you need to know, although the ability to think on your feet and adapt to rapidly changing situations will always be part of any deployment.Lesson 1 (of many) - Assembling a NATO Operating Table:Before...... During......

After..... The ability to attend this course and network with like-minded perioperative nurses from such a wide variety of backgrounds was an invaluable opportunity. By linking in with NCCTRC staff, we were all able to get a much clearer idea of what deployment could look of feel like in the theatre environment, and what it might feel like for us as individuals. Their knowledge and experience was humbling, the information I gained was phenomenal and I can only heartily recommend this opportunity to other perioperative nursing staff.

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AUSMAT Surgical & Anaesthetic Course – August 2014Sam Shepherd, Radiograher, Counties Manukau Health

Destination Darwin! Of all places I expected my career to take me this early I never expected the Northern Territories was one of them. But as it turns out, Darwin is actually a very cool place to visit. Mostly because of the awesome people that I was lucky enough to meet during my time there, but the weather, funky city, and beautiful beaches made it all the more enjoyable on their own.As a Radiographer in the NZMAT, I was highly privileged to be asked to attend the AUSMAT Surgical and Anesthesia course held in Darwin. Naturally, the majority of participants were either Surgeons or Anesthetists, in fact beside myself, they all were. Hence my initial concern and 'prophylactic' pre-course study, as to potentially contribute more to the coursethan just an x-ray joke every now and then.

As the first to acknowledge my lack of qualifications among such company, I figured my attitude would have make up for any inexperience. From day one however, I was accepted as one of the team and involved in all of the lectures and activities, even participating in some surgical simulations which suited me just fine. Having a pre-existing interest in surgery, and a freshly topped up basic knowledge of procedures from my time as a theatre radiographer, made my experience far more interactive, as at no time did I feel out of place, or in over my head. Even as terminology and anatomic structures that are rarely part of my vocabulary were constantly thrown about. I won’t lie in that I did find myself checking equal understanding of those around me every now and then, and making a few changes to the path my brain was taking me but generally keeping up was no problem.Outside of the classroom was a different story however with the GPS navigating, communications, convoy driving, and situational management aspects of the course. Having already completed the NZMAT team members course earlier in the year, I was in a position of experience ahead of the majority, though not all, of my co-participants seeing as from here, the courses were quite similar. What was a far different challenge however was the climate, where the true contrast of the two courses was brought to light. The NZMAT course in Rotorua was fantastic in that we were lucky enough to be in the middle of a storm and competing with rain, wind and fog. Where in Darwin my New Zealand habitus was challenged by the sun, heat, and never ending sweat caused by their version of "winter". It was warm! Especially coming from an Auckland August. That being said, in both cases I couldn't have been happier as what better environments to be thrown into for a simulation, than those similar to what an actual deployment may look like.Four days later when our time unfortunately came to an end, I was left feeling the same as after the NZMAT course. Ready, motivated, energized, and eager to deploy at the first opportunity where my newly acquired and previous set of skills may be useful. Also sad however, as the people I had the pleasure of participating with helped make my time in Darwin that much more extraordinary as they quickly became great friends and colleagues who I very much hope to meet again, possibly on deployment. Either way, from a Radiographers point of view and an enthusiastic team member, I am truly grateful and consider myself extremely lucky to be part of this organisation and hope to participate and contribute more in the coming years.

The aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Evan December 2012 which hit Samoa and Fiji with winds of up to 185km/h, leaving a trail of debris behind it.

Photos: New Zealand Herald

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Upcoming Conferences

19th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine21st – 24th April 2015Cape Town, South Africa

The World Conference on Disaster Management8th – 11th June 2015Toronto, CanadaFor further information: http://www.wcdm.org

Australian & New Zealand Disaster & Emergency Management Conference3rd – 5th May 2015Jupiters Gold Coast, AustraliaFor further information: http://anzdmc.com.au

For further information: http://www.wcdem2015.org/

Disaster Management 20154th International Conference on Disaster Management & Human Health: Reducing Risk, Improving Outcomes20th – 22nd May 2015Istanbul, TurkeyFor further information: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/15-conferences/disaster-management-2015.html

People in Disasters: Response Recovery Resilience24th – 26th February 2016Christchurch, New ZealandFor further information: www.peopleindisasters.org.nz

Do you have?Have you got a conference, seminar or teaching session that would be of interest to NZMAT volunteers?

If so, send details to the NZMAT Programme Manager for distribution :

Judy.Fairgray@middlemore.co.nz

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Are you ready for Deployment?

NZMAT Personnel ResponsibilitiesHow ready are you to be deployed? There is a lot of organisation by numerous Government agencies that goes into preparing a team of health professionals for an international deployment.NZMAT personnel play an important part in ensuring the deployment process goes smoothly by ensuring the personal items they bring to the deployment assembly point doesn’t include ‘the kitchen sink’! To ensure the team equipment bag which is issued to NZMAT personnel does not exceed the recommended weight, only the following is taken on deployment: Personal hygiene products such as: shampoo & conditioner,

shaving kit, mirror, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, foot powder, facial tissues, talcum powder, feminine hygiene products, wet wipes (this may be your bath!)

Personal clothing: - 1 x belt - 2 x shorts - 2 – 3 singlets- 2 – 3 x T-shits - 3 sets x underwear - 3 pairs x socks for boots- 2 or 3 pairs x long trousers - Personal glasses or contacts

lenses (as required)- 3 pairs x socks for use with

theatre/ward shoes Two changes of personal clothing appropriate for weather conditions (heat and humidity) or location of work

(hand washing of clothing may be necessary) 1 x sports shoes / theatre shoes (as required) Sturdy boots—appropriate foot wear, as nails, debris, mud, and water will be present Jandals for shower shoes, plenty of dry socks and undergarments Sunglasses on cord Snacks and light food Watch Sewing kit Copy of professional license, driver’s license, professional identification and vaccination passport Sufficient cash for the number of days deployed (card facilities may not be available and credit cards may not

work)

If you are unsure about any of the deployment requirements for NZMAT personnel please contact the NZMAT Programme Manager Judy Fairgray at Judy.Fairgray@middlemore.co.nz

NZMAT will deploy only at the request of the local medical authority in the disaster area

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Have you visited the NZMAT Website?

Its official - NZMAT has its own website!The website is hosted by the Ministry of Health and can be accessed it via http://www.health.govt.nz/nzmat.

On this website you can find information covering the following areas: About NZMAT

Background Deployment Reference Group Team Structure

Photos Information about any

current deployment

Volunteering information Applying Notice of deployment Prerequisites for

volunteering Training What to expect on

deployment

Is there is any information you are looking not found on the website let the NZMAT Programme Manager.

Resources Employer information Past Newsletter

editions Q & A sheet

Related publications Related websites

For Further Information about the NZMAT Contact:Judy FairgrayNZMAT Programme ManagerJudy.Fairgray@middlemore.co.nz

Charles BlanchDirector, Emergency Management – MoHCharles_Blanch@moh.govt.nz

Martin BuetRegional Emergency Management Advisor (Midlands) – MoHMartin_Buet@moh.govt.nz

Do you have a burning question related to NZMAT?

Is there information you would like to see in Newsletter?

Send your questions and comments to:

Judy.Fairgray@middlemore.co.nz

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