With the many seminars and enrichment programs introduced this year, families in church have not been left out: they have a whole series of Parenting Workshops lined up for their participation.. On 7 March 2009, the series kicked off with the topic “Basic First Aid and Your Child”, at Expo Hall 1.
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| PHOTOS: Lynn Tan |
The workshop was attended by a sizeable group of parents, some with kids in tow. Volunteers from the Children’s Church were also in attendance as this was a topic relevant to them. Conducting the course was Juztin Png, a facilitator from the Singapore First Aid Training Centre (SFATC). The informal setting allowed plenty of interactivity, and the attentive participants fired many questions during the session.
Png, 26, was as a nurse in a hospital before joining SFATC a year ago Png said, “I hope to be able to help increase survival rate by sharing my knowledge, because simply knowing and applying CPR to someone in need can dramatically make the difference between life and death for them.”
The workshop was a good mix of theory and practical, covering a range of common injuries along with recommended treatment methods. Using plenty of humor and a clearly illustrated Powerpoint presentation, Png also displaced many “old wives tales”, such as putting toothpaste on a burn to speed up recovery. According to Png, toothpaste may temporarily bring relief to the skin’s surface, but the mint will turn “hot” after the cooling effect has worn off, plus there is no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of toothpaste on burns.
The highlight of the day was a live demonstration on life-sized adult and baby dummies. Participants found it helpful to observe at close view how exactly to use Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), or administer aid in instances such as choking.
The participants were able to put their newfound knowledge to the test: each had a chance to practice CPR on the dummies.
With this exercise, and the many helpful tips from Png, the parents and ministry helpers at the session went away more equipped — to provide basic first aid to their children in emergency situations.
It was clear from the feedback of the parents that they enjoyed the whole workshop.
Eddie Chng, 35, a civil servant who attended the session with his wife and his year-old daughter Zoey, found the course a great help for him and his family. He said, “I had learned first aid before, and this helped to serve as a refresher for me. I think more parents should attend such useful workshops.”
