Recommendation 159

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW and Justice Health NSW.

Recommendation

That all prisons and police watch-houses should have resuscitation equipment of the safest and most effective type readily available in the event of emergency and staff who are trained in the use of such equipment.

Context

The Royal Commission emphasised the important of access to appropriate resuscitation equipment, including that some equipment also required specialist training and skill that may be more appropriate in correctional centres with medically qualified staff to operate. Recommendation 159 is directed at ensuring that equipment and training is available to relevant staff.

Detail of implementation

All correctional facilities, including police and court cell locations, have defibrillators.

First aid training conducted by CSNSW includes use of the defibrillator. First Aid training is a mandatory component for a Correctional Officer and is to be completed every 2 years.

All correctional centres, CESU locations and every CESU vehicle also had a first aid kit, which contains a ‘Resus-Aid Mask’ as resuscitation equipment.

CESU transport vehicles carry a defibrillator on regional escorts.   

Justice Health NSW response 

Justice Health NSW or private contract medical staff are on site at correctional centres will administer medical assistance. Where Justice Health NSW staff are present at court cell locations, they will assist. If they are not present, then CSNSW are trained to administer assistance and will call the on-call Justice Health NSW line and NSW Ambulance.