Monday, 22 April 2024

Lebone College of Emergency Care (LCOEC) once again serves with a smile by providing First Responder Training to Gauteng’s Clinic Committees appointed by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH).

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has taken a significant step towards enhancing the quality of healthcare services provided at public clinics in the province. With the appointment of 1,444 clinic committee members, the GDoH aims to promote effective and efficient governance, ensuring patient-centered care and improved health outcomes for the communities they serve.

These newly appointed committee members will play a crucial role in facilitating public participation, addressing community health needs, and ensuring accountability and effective management of the 370 public clinics across Gauteng. The Clinic Committees, as statutory bodies, will work in accordance with Section 42 of the National Health Act, No.61 of 2003, to promote better governance practices.

LCOEC formed part of the induction hosted by GDoH across all five Gauteng districts: Tshwane, City of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, West Rand, and Sedibeng, by giving a brief introduction to the First Responder Training that Clinic Committee members will be receiving so that they are well equipt with the skills and knowledge to save lives as Clinic Committee members for Gauteng.

During the first induction program held on Wednesday, 10 April, at the Centenary Hall in Krugersdorp, West Rand, MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, warmly welcomed the Clinic Committee members. She emphasized their voluntary commitment to oversee local clinics, aiming to enhance health services and improve the patient experience.

Comprising of five community members and three ex-officio members, which may include a local councillor, health representative, and a community development worker, the Clinic Committees will serve a three-year term, with the possibility of three consecutive terms.

MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko expressed her dedication to strengthening governance across all health facilities, highlighting the importance of amplifying community voices, taking prompt action, and adequately addressing the healthcare needs of the public.

With honour, LCOEC serves a key role in the training of these committee members, ensuring that their presence and participation are at an optimal level in providing quality service at clinics, and with the appointment of these committee members, the GDoH is optimistic about achieving its objective of fostering effective and efficient governance in public clinics, ultimately leading to improved healthcare services and better patient experiences.

Friday, 1 March 2024

As a College under the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH), Lebone College of Emergency Care (LCOEC) has accomplished a remarkable feat by acquiring international accreditation from the esteemed American Heart Association (AHA). This achievement signifies LCOEC’s commitment to promoting life-saving skills and equipping healthcare providers with the necessary knowledge to respond effectively in emergency situations.

With the newly acquired AHA accreditation, LCOEC is now authorized to offer Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLSHCP) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) courses. These courses are designed to provide healthcare professionals with essential skills and equip them to save lives during critical moments.

This milestone elevates LCOEC to the ranks of approximately 4,000 training centres worldwide and makes it the third government-operated centre in the country to offer American Heart Association courses. The accreditation not only underscores LCOEC’s dedication to delivering high-quality healthcare training but also highlights the GDoH’s commitment to providing top-notch healthcare services within the government framework.

This accomplishment is a crucial step towards the readiness for the National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout in the province, as it ensures that healthcare workers are equipped with standardized care and resuscitation skills. MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Addressing the gap in resuscitation skills among healthcare workers and ensuring standardized care strengthens our health system’s capacity to save lives. It further aligns with the NHI’s goal of providing equitable access to high-quality healthcare services for all residents.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. CVDs encompass various heart and blood vessel disorders, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and rheumatic heart disease. Shockingly, more than four out of five CVD deaths are attributed to heart attacks and strokes, with one-third of these deaths occurring prematurely in individuals under 70 years of age.

Mr. Glenn van Houten, a representative from the American Heart Association, emphasized the significance of this accreditation, stating, “High-quality CPR when performed immediately can double or even triple survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Having more people equipped to provide high-quality CPR at any point along the chain of survival can help us improve the survival rate.”

In addition to the AHA-accredited courses, LCOEC continues to provide education and training in Emergency Medical Care and Medical Rescue courses. The college is currently in the process of acquiring accreditation with the Council of Higher Education, which will enable the independent offering of a recognized curriculum across higher education institutions.

LCOEC presently offers Higher Certificate and Diploma programs in Emergency Medical Care through a partnership with Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.

This achievement not only celebrates the partnership between LCOEC and the American Heart Association but, more importantly, the potential lives that will be saved as a result. It signifies a significant step towards building longer and healthier lives in Gauteng Province and South Africa as a whole.

Monday, 26 February 2024

Lebone College of Emergency Care (LCOEC) recently organized the highly anticipated Teamwork and Leadership Challenge (TLC) from February 15th to 16th, 2024. The event, held at Ezemvelo Nature Reserve in Gauteng Province, proved to be a resounding success, providing the students of LCOEC with invaluable opportunities to enhance their teamwork and leadership skills in the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Over the course of 36 hours, students from the Diploma second year, Diploma first year, and Higher Certificate classes of 2023 and 2024, alongside academic staff and support officials from EMS operation and LCOEC, engaged in a series of physically and mentally demanding challenges. The TLC aimed to simulate real-life emergency scenarios, and test the students’ problem-solving abilities, decision-making skills, and leadership aptitude, all while fostering effective teamwork and communication.

The event comprised various challenging activities, including a 20-kilometer trek while carrying heavy equipment, navigation hikes, wilderness search and rescue simulations, survival exercises, mental endurance tests, and aquaphobia training involving boat and river crossing exercises. These challenges pushed participants to their limits, enabling them to develop resilience, adaptability, and the ability to perform under pressure.

By actively participating in the TLC, students gained firsthand experience of the demanding conditions they might encounter in their future careers as emergency care professionals, particularly in medical rescue. This immersive experience not only equipped them with practical skills but also instilled a sense of confidence and preparedness for the complexities of the healthcare delivery system.

The TLC is an integral component of the Emergency Medical Care (EMC) program, designed to cultivate leadership qualities and organizational skills among students. It serves as a crucial stepping stone towards their academic and professional development in EMC, preparing them for the dynamic and rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Throughout the event, the safety and well-being of everyone remained a top priority. LCOEC made thorough arrangements to ensure medical support was readily available on-site, with medically equipped vehicles such as ambulances, primary response vehicles (PRVs), rescue vehicles, logistics bakkies, and College buses stationed nearby. A dedicated medical team stood by for emergencies, and nearby hospitals were on standby to provide additional medical assistance if required. Furthermore, a Heli-vac was available for severe injuries, while minor injuries were promptly treated by the on-site medical team.

The TLC exemplifies the College’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and preparing students for the rigors of their future careers. By promoting values such as learning, leadership, teamwork, diplomacy, discipline, encouragement, humour, mutual respect, and professionalism, LCOEC is nurturing well-rounded and competent EMS professionals who will serve their communities with dedication and distinction.

The successful conclusion of the TLC marks a significant milestone for LCOEC and its students, providing them with a solid foundation for personal and professional growth. The College looks forward to organizing future TLC events that will continue to inspire and empower students in their journey toward becoming outstanding emergency care providers.

Thursday, 09 March 2023

In a bid to equip communities with the required skills to respond to commonly encountered emergencies, the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) on Wednesday, 08 March 2023, launched the First Responder Training offered by Lebone College of Emergency Care (LCOEC) at Kwa-Masiza Hostel in Sebokeng, Sedibeng.

With the LCOEC’s excellent education, training system, and professional District Trainers, it has taken the responsibility to extend its training to surrounding communities in Gauteng. This is a Township Informal Settlements and Hostels Program (TISH Program) that is aimed at equipping underprivileged communities with the necessary skills to be able to help save lives while waiting for professional help from emergency personnel, hence the name “First Responder.”

One of the reasons for this program is because research shows that in over 90% of medical, trauma, suicide, and accident incidents, communities are less equipped to respond to the emergency situation they were confronted with. The First Responder Training will help make a difference between life and death while awaiting emergency response teams. The topics covered in the training are hemorrhage control, burn treatment, fractured and dislocated bone treatment, seizure treatment, choking, CPR, First Aid awareness and tools, hypothermia, and hyperthermia.

The launch was graced by the presence of the MEC of Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, who in her speech thanked the community for taking part in the program. She added that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that there are training programs like the First Responder Training in TISH communities to make sure that communities have the necessary skills to save lives, know how to act, and control emergency incidences depending on specific situations. This training will give members of communities the confidence to make decisions that will result in saving lives, and that making a difference in someone’s life or in the community produces excitement and encouragement individually and within the community, she continued.

The first TISH Program – First Responder Training was a major success, with over 100 members of Kwa-Masiza Hostel receiving First Responder Training. A special thank you to Lebone College of Emergency Care and the College’s District Trainers who conducted the training to the members of Kwa-Masiza Hostel and committing to providing the First Responder Training to many more TISH communities for the year 2023. The goal is to always serve and make a difference, and it is with great excitement that LCOEC started the year on such a fulfilling note. We Care, We Serve, We Belong.

Tuesday, 22 November 2022

Monday evening, 21 November 2022 Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, also known as Green Angels, were under attack in Mshongoville, an informal settlement in Atteridgeville, Pretoria West. This attack occurred while our Green Angels were treating an assaulted patient who was critically injured. Unfortunately, this attack resulted in the patient getting killed inside the ambulance.

Around 19:44 a call was lodged to the Gauteng Emergency Communication Centre, and at around 20:00 an ambulance was dispatched to Mshongoville. Police were requested to escort the response team in order to ensure that they entered the area safely.

When our Green Angels arrived at the scene the patient was already laying on the ground surrounded by the community. The Green Angels managed to initiate treatment and as they were about to leave the scene for the nearest hospital the community members started reacting violently by throwing stones at the ambulance.

They continued reacting by barricading the road, preventing the departure of the ambulance. The community demanded justice as the patient was alleged of doing a crime within the community.

Due to the attack, the Green Angels ran for cover. Unfortunately, the attack led to the patient further being fatally assaulted while lying on an ambulance stretcher. Additionally, the ambulance was extremely damaged and some medical equipment was stolen by the attackers. A case has been opened with the police on this matter.

The paramedics who were attacked were taken for medical observation at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, and as part of the Employee Health Wellness Programme, they will be attending counselling sessions and will be continuously monitored when they return to their duties as normal.

MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko stated her disappointment and frustration in the attack on healthcare workers whose purpose and job is to provide healthcare to those in need of it. “This is totally unacceptable. We cannot allow society to degenerate like this. Mob justice or taking the law into our own hands cannot be the answer to addressing some of the socio-economic issues affecting communities. There has to be a better way,” stated MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.

MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko further on stated how serious attacks on EMS personnel are, and ensures that further action should and will be taken to strengthen protection and prevent such incidents from happening to our Green Angels in the future. “Attacks on our personnel have dire consequences as they make it difficult for them to discharge the constitutional mandate to provide access to healthcare services. I will further engage with the Community Safety Department and community structures to see how we can work together to strengthen some of the interventions that are already in place to curb such incidents,” explained MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.

We plea and ask communities to stop attacks on Paramedics. Such attacks have long-term consequences not only for EMS personnel but communities as a whole as this makes it difficult for our Green Angels to perform their duties to serve communities and provide health care.

by: Cobus Cox and Lesego Mpeta

In the month of November 2021, the South African Police Service (SAPS) together with Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) hosted the second Annual Rescue Simulationexercise called Cormorant. This Year the exercise was hosted at Sunset View Family Resort, Bon Accord Dam in Onderstepoort, Pretoria and included a Multi-Agency Response to a Simulated Aircraft Accident.

The Simulation Exercise entailed an aircraft that departed from Wonderboom National Airport with a flight plan to air drop Skydivers. After departure, the aircraft experienced engine failure and headed back to the airport for an emergency landing. The aircraft was unable to reach the airport and radar contact was lost over Bon Accord Dam. Eye witnesses reported seeing skydivers jump from the aircraft at low altitude followed by the aircraft ditching in Bon Accord Dam…