Pacific Werribee goes into emergency mode

Pacific Werribee will be the first shopping centre in Australia to install GPS coordinated emergency marker points.

The points will assist emergency services in locating and dealing with incidences and emergencies in a more efficient manner.

The initiative was created in conjunction with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) and Ambulance Victoria.

It will see seven emergency markers that are recognised by the ESTA (Triple Zero) dispatch grid and coded signage placed strategically around the Centre.

Emergency markers are a physical sign with a unique alpha numeric code, that, when quoted, enables ESTA to dispatch services immediately.

ESTA has worked with many land managers and land owners to install these community safety signs and now has more than 2700 emergency markers across Victoria.

In the case of an emergency, Centre security will; identify the location of the incident, call emergency services to relay the information and then meet emergency staff at the marked point to escort them to the injured person or incident point.

Members of the public can also use the emergency marker location should they wish to contact 000.

Pacific Werribee centre manager Jonathan Codman said the initiative is vital. 

“As with other large centres, there can be difficulty in locating the patients within the Centre when incidents occur, and in situations when every minute is critical, that is quite concerning."