Sedative to improve protection for paramedics

SUNSHINE Coast paramedics will be trained in the coming months to administer a sedative to agitated and violent patients.

SUNSHINE Coast paramedics will be trained in the coming months to administer a sedative to agitated and violent patients.

Queensland Ambulance Service Acting Deputy Commissioner Dee Taylor-Dutton said use of anti-psychotic drug Droperidol would be rolled out on the Sunshine Coast from October.

Act. Dep. Commissioner Taylor-Dutton said critical care paramedics were already trained to administer sedatives.

She said the training would now be extended to advanced care paramedics, who make up the majority of the service.

A range of steps have been taken to improve safety for paramedics based on a list of recommendations from a review.

Sunshine Coast paramedics have had a duress alarm option on their radios since March 21.

Once pressed, it also leaves the paramedics' microphone live, so communications centre staff can hear what is happening at the scene.

Act. Dep. Commissioner Taylor-Dutton said the technological advancements were hoped to compliment a community awareness campaign to make paramedics safer.

"We've got to do whatever we can and everyone has got to get involved," she said.