Cohuna’s visiting paramedics and Ambulance Community Officers (ACO) now have access to a gym to keep their bodies and minds healthy and active.

Thanks to an initiative of ACO Travis Hore and the generosity of Bree from Evolve Fitness and Performance, our visiting ambos can keep as fit as they want when they want and still be ready at a moment’s notice to jump in the ambulance.

Visiting paramedics spend eight days straight and are on duty 24 hours a day while based at the Cohuna branch, and ACOs can also spend days there. While they have down-time in between call-outs, being on duty means they can’t stray far from the station, so any exercise, Travis says, consists of simple stationary exercises like push ups, sit ups and skipping rope, with one paramedic walking blocks to ensure he is never far away.

Travis said that with a gym located 150 metres from the branch, it provided an ideal location and facilities for visiting paramedics and ACOs to maintain their fitness and wellbeing. 

“Everyone who goes there, whilst it’s their home branch, it’s not their home,” said Travis of the visiting paramedics. 

“Most people take care of themselves, which is a big part of being a paramedic. You’ve got to take care of yourself, and part of that is exercise. The trouble is you really can’t leave the branch to go running out the island or anything because if the pager goes off, you’ve got to respond in an appropriate time.” 

Gym membership options didn’t suit the visiting paramedics who might only be in town for short periods of time or get paged partway through a workout.

Travis approached Bree, the owner of the gym, and explained the situation. She agreed it was a wonderful idea and offered free membership for any of the visiting paramedics.

“She’s given us access to her gym, which is fantastic. Now, rather than having to walk blocks or sit at the branch and do 100 push ups and sit ups, we can walk over to the gym, go for a run on the running machine, use the weights or do whatever. And if your pager goes off, you can still respond in an appropriate time because it’s so close. It’s fantastic.”

The initiative has been going since early February and has been embraced by the ambos who can now exercise regardless of the weather. “I’m happy to do it,” said Bree. “These guys do a great job in the community, and it’s good for them to be able to avoid the heat and exercise here when it suits them.”

Travis added, “In paramedicine, it’s so important to keep your physical and mental health in check, because you get confronted with scenarios that aren’t always what you’d anticipate when you eat breakfast in the morning how your day’s going to pan out, but they’re there and if you are physically fit, and mentally fit, then you’ve got more of an opportunity to deal with it all appropriately and manage it all.”

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 14 March 2024.