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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-27 Daily Xml
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EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:37): I appreciate the Hon. Rob Lucas' fishing expedition.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: The injured workers' position of the Labor Party is vastly superior to yours, that is for sure, but nonetheless, Mr Acting President—

The ACTING PRESIDENT: I think the honourable member should address his remarks through the chair.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: I will, thank you, Mr Acting President; and thank you for your protection. A constituent recently raised a safety issue which requires our constant attention and care. The issue makes us realise how misleading and dangerous some television programs can be when information on basic safety issues goes unchallenged or uncorrected. I am referring here to the effect on young minds—and even some adults—of imported television programs that inadvertently present 911 as the emergency call number for assistance. We know that the emergency call number in Australia is 000 (triple zero).

Where does the potential for confusion arise? In our television programming the Australian Broadcasting Association stipulates that 55 per cent of all drama, documentary and children's television on free-to-air television channels must be locally made. The remaining percentage of free-to-air programs (in the main, American) potentially carries misinformation for Australian viewers on the emergency number issue. Also, outside of free-to-air television we have further potential for misinformation on the emergency number issue with the coverage and growth in pay television, so the theoretical percentage for possible dissemination of incorrect information on emergency numbers could be much higher.

Leaving percentages and speculations aside, what hard evidence do we have that such potential for danger exists? Information supplied to me by Mr Ross Smith (whom I will discuss later in more detail) is most worrying. Mr Smith once asked a class of year 1 and 2 primary school students who were being taught first aid to identify the emergency telephone number. To his surprise, over one-third of the combined year class called out the 911 number.

There is more disturbing evidence involving the use of the incorrect emergency number, and I again use information given by Mr Smith. In July 2007 a fatal house fire in Sydney saw the tragic death of a young girl. Media reports at the time claimed that someone had yelled, 'Call 911.' Another tragedy gives direct evidence. A South Australian mother frantically calls 911, over and over again, in an attempt to call an ambulance for her drowned baby. She eventually ran to her neighbours, where they reached emergency services on 000, but, tragically, the child died.

In response to these reactions by the public, a spokesperson for Intensive Care Paramedic South Australian Ambulance has stated:

We continue to promote 000 but we are hearing all too often that that 911 is called more frequently than we would like.

It is pointed out here that, while some calls to 911 will be redirected by Telstra, 911 landline calls will not, nor will many 911 mobile calls get through to Telstra or through to other carriers. Apart from the confusion it creates if people continue to think or suggest that the 911 number is a reliable alternative, when time is critical, calling the correct emergency number in an increasingly busy operations centre is essential to both the efficiency of the operations centre and, obviously, the safety and wellbeing of the patient.

This brings me to the person of Ross Smith, a paramedic for 17 years and now a director of a national emergency training company. Mr Smith, in pursuing a number of lifesaving initiatives, sees the education of the very young as instrumental in creating the foundation for correct emergency responses. To this end, his company, Kookaburra Publishing, was created to bring to the public his vision through the advent of Little Heroes books and CDs. Utilising the talents of experienced collaborators such as Peter Townsend, who is the book illustrator and developer of the Bananas in Pyjamas characters, and song producer Peter Stevenson, music producer for Australian Idol, amongst many other talented people, Mr Smith has assembled a talented team to push this message into schools, kindergartens and homes.

Hopefully, the efforts of Mr Smith, in conjunction with the endless advertising undertaken by relevant state and federal government bodies and agencies, will ensure that the message keeps getting across. In closing, I wish Mr Smith all the best in his important public adventure.

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