Our People in QLD
Craig Crossan - Army Medic becomes spiderman in the Middle East
Sergeant Crossan works at the Force Logistic Base providing trauma care, co-ordinating medical transfers for injured personnel and preparing soldiers for working in a harsh desert environment.
Some staff have nicknamed Sergeant Crossan 'spiderman' due to his love for a couple of live training aides he reveals to newly arrived troops. During his health lecture he unveils a X centre-metre camel spider.
"This one has four large serrated jaws and can move across the desert at around 15 kilometres an hour. It can be quite confronting as it sprints towards you but it isn't attacking just trying to cool off in a shadow. The only people they bite are those who try and kick it away"
"I also have an Arabian black fat tail scorpion. Recently when I brought this one out one of the students lept out of his seat and ran across the room. My role is to teach ADF personnel what to do if they are bitten or stung in the environment until medical help arrives."
"These specimens were discovered by some of my Navy and Air Force colleagues working around the base here."
The 31 year old also offers advice on treating sporting injuries. "Everyone deployed overseas is very conscious of training and maintaining their fitness levels. I recently retired after playing rugby union for the Toowoomba Bears so I can help with tips about training in the heat and I constantly draw on strapping skills I learnt as Captain of the Queensland Army volleyball team."
1,400 ADF personnel are currently working across the Gulf Region and all know that if the 'spiderman' is there to treat them, they're in good hands.