Trauma on the Border 2021

Land, Air and Sea - Conquering unique trauma challenges

Trauma on the high seas

This is a reflective memoir of Renee McHugh's time at sea in Western Africa as a volunteer medic for Sea Shepherd. The potential for trauma on a ship at sea is extreme and exists everywhere. This talk explores the diverse occupational hazards and human risk involved in the direct action campaigns to protect marine wildlife and habitat. These campaigns are conducted in remote and isolated marine protected areas of the Gulf of Guinea. Due to the remoteness of the region, the trauma from serious illness or injury could be potentially catastrophic. Risk identification, management and mitigation in this environment is paramount because tertiary care facilities are thousands of kilometres away.

Presented by: Renee McHugh, Advanced Care Paramedic II, Queensland Ambulance Service

Renee is an advanced care paramedic with 13 years of on road experience in metro north as an ACP II and LARU paramedic. Renee's husband is also a paramedic and they have a two year old son. Renee studied occupational therapy at James Cook University in Townsville prior to becoming a paramedic.