Health service pitches in to help sick and injured animals from the bushfires
The Broken Hill Health Service has joined in to help those organisations who are treating the sick and injured animals as a result of the bushfires. Hospital staff are collecting expired medical items that can no longer be used for treating people but instead can be used to treat animals impacted by the devastating bushfires.
Working with local RRANA, the items will be sent to the Animal Rescue Collective (ARC) hub, based in South Australia. This hub then distributes medical supplies to wildlife carers throughout SA, NSW and anywhere else, who can provide emergency care and treatment for wildlife who are victims of the fires.
The group's mission statement is to provide a transparent and productive community environment in which rescuers, volunteers and supporters can band together to make a greater impact in the area of animal welfare in Australia, said Caroline Clemens, Acting Nurse Unit Manager, Medical Ward.
'We wanted to help and one way was to send items that otherwise would be disposed of, that can instead be used to treat the sick and injured animals,' said Ms Clemens.
Items being collected here for ARC include out of date or opened items, such as open dressing packs, cannulation kit unused items, wound kits that are no longer aseptic (sterile), end of date saline, IV lines and cannulas, syringes, plastic bowls and kidney dishes, disinfectant hand wash plus any out of date medications, creams, Jelonet and Melonin dressings.
Ms Clemens said hundreds of volunteers are delivering items throughout Australia. 'The role that ARC play in coordinating and distributing these much needed items to various wildlife groups and individual carers cannot be underrated.'
She added local RRANA are currently conducting a fundraiser to help assist 70 joeys and adolescents in pre-release on a property. Like other areas in the Far West there has been minimal rainfall and the group are unable to release these Kangaroos until we get sufficient rain to support them. All these animals are being support fed until it rains but we need your help please. You can visit RRANA's Facebook page on how you can assist this group's vital work.