17 set to train others in Basic First Aid

Seventeen of this country’s Red Cross volunteers are now fully trained to train persons throughout the country in administering basic First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) services.{{more}}

The seventeen officially received their certificates at a function last Saturday, September 25, at the Red Cross building in Kingstown.

Last Saturday’s ceremony marked the end of the instructors’ training course which started in February this year, according to Bertillon Hamilton, instructor-trainer of the St Vincent Red Cross.

He added that the seventeen instructors included six who were previously trained.

According to Hamilton, the six instructors were re-trained to bring them up to par with the new programme that the American Red Cross has adopted.

Furthermore, the certification is internationally recognized, Hamilton said.

Bernard Marksman, President of the St Vincent Red Cross, said that that the training and recertification exercise was in keeping with the mandate of the rest of the international body.

This mandate includes the philosophy that basic first aid must be made accessible to all.

“So this then puts the demand on us to review and scale up on the way we do things,” Marksman said.

“It is critical to recruit properly trained persons to carry on services.”

“It is now up to us to expand and continue training and to ensure that it is of the highest,” he continued.

Feature speaker of the evening, Dr Julian ‘Jules’ Ferdinand, revisited the 1979 eruption of the La Soufriere volcano as he spoke of the importance of the organization, particularly in times of devastation.

He reflected on the near chaos which resulted when persons north of the dry river were forced southwards and the issues which followed.

Dr Ferdinand said that it was the work of the Red Cross which assisted many by providing food and clothing to those in most need of it back then.

“The Red Cross was instrumental in assisting during that time,” he said.

He, however, urged the newly certified instructors to be mindful of their new responsibilities, especially in light of the fact that the tragedy such as that of 1979 can happen again.

He shared delight in the thought that the Red Cross functions in times of disaster when “people will come and give attention.” (DD)