Emergency Response Equipment Receptacle ( ERER)

The Western Australia Police Service, RoadWise and communities along the length of the Eyre Highway have joined together to improve road safety, road crash trauma management and emergency response to this, the most isolated of locations. The area represents the most remote but heavily traveled region of Australia. It is a major conduit linking the West and East coast. A vast number of freight and passenger carrying vehicles use the highway. Additionally, the location is a major international air route and shipping route, and the Indian-Pacific rail link parallels the highway.

Commencing with a recently completed pilot project, it has been decided to place a series of five insulated stainless steel sea containers, known as Emergency Response Equipment Receptacles (ERER), along and immediately beside 1000 kilometers of the Eyre Highway at strategically positioned communities within WA and SA. Each container will house a trailer equipped with fundamental emergency response equipment. 1) This basic durable equipment will support victims of emergency events and those assisting them. Emergency events will primarily be road crashes, but may involve other incidents.

The containers will perform a secondary function in conveying highly visible road safety messages. The sides will carry slogans emphasising safe driving and the dangers of speed and fatigue; two factors that contribute significantly to fatal and serious road crashes on remote country roads. Thirdly, the units will be incorporated into Local Emergency Management Advisory Committee (LEMAC) plans and become central to annual multiagency emergency response exercises. These exercises, with an emphasis on crash rescue and trauma management, will practice emergency response personnel and remote communities in life saving skills, as well as overcoming somewhat their sense of isolation and the tyranny of distance.