VU paramedicine student awarded certificate of appreciation

James Deletaris was driving home one evening last month when he encountered a collision at a busy intersection.  

The first year Victoria University (VU) TAFE student had spent a hectic day on placement at the MCG, where he worked alongside professional staff attending an array of medical conditions – a three-year-old boy had hit his head and was bleeding heavily, while an older football fan experienced chest pain, and ended up in hospital.  

“I really enjoy doing placements. I’ve done a few with at the MCG and St John’s Ambulance. It’s a great opportunity to ask lots of questions and get hands-on experience.” 

The nineteen-year-old, who is currently studying for a Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport, wasn’t too far from home when he came across the accident. 

The instinct to help was immediate. Pulling off the road, James spoke briefly to Senior Constable Alastair McDonald, who directed James to render first aid until the ambulance arrived. James recalled:

There was glass everywhere – the scene was pretty chaotic. One person had gotten out of their car and appeared uninjured; the other was lying on their back, unconscious.

“The person who was uninjured wanted to go back to their car and get a bag, but I had to stop them because we didn’t know if the car might explode.”  

James focused on the unconscious person first, administered first aid immediately and, according to his training, applied the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to assess for brain damage. When the MICA Unit arrived, James provided detailed information and a comprehensive handover to the specialists. 

While his training at VU prepares him to handle emergencies, taking part in a real-life scenario was confronting.  

“When the ambulance arrived, I gave them a status update, and because I’d helped as much as I could, I headed home.”  

Senior Constable Alastair McDonald was so impressed with James’ “significant contribution to patient care, effective scene management, and smooth handover of care to Ambulance Victoria,” that he contacted VU to express his thanks.  

In turn, VU’s Associate Professor Brian Haskins, Discipline Lead, Course Chair and Research Fellow for Paramedicine, awarded James with a Victoria University Certificate of Appreciation.  

Associate Professor Haskins said he was delighted to pass on the praise and award James with the certificate. “By all accounts, James did an outstanding job and used his relatively new skills to their full advantage. It’s always great to see a good deed recognised.” 

James said he mentioned the accident to a couple of people, including one of his lecturers.  

“I wouldn’t hesitate if a similar situation happened. Even though I’ve only been studying paramedicine for a few months, I’ve acquired skills that feel make me feel confident enough to offer help.”