CHCSA volunteers learn basic first aid at a recent training program.
Contributed By Amelia Chia
CHCSA volunteers learn basic first aid techniques. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHCSA.
“When you’re tending to a person who has just been bitten by a snake, do not try to suck out the poison or squeeze out the venom, nor try to locate the snake—remember, safety first!” warned Ginny Quek, a fourth-year medical student with Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, at a basic first aid training course organized by City Harvest Community Services Association for 21 of its volunteers. Quek was assisted by Karmen Cheng, a staff nurse with the Singapore General Hospital.
The volunteers who are involved in community work with the elderly, youth, the terminally-ill and the hearing-impaired sat with rapt attention as Quek taught the session, covering what to do in situations where a patient may have wounds, burns, fractures or heat stroke. The training was organized to help the volunteers be prepared for emergencies that they may face in the course of the community work they do.
Besides having a theoretical introduction to first aid, the volunteers were given the opportunity to practice what they learned—on one another. Herman Lim, a staff of CHCSA who facilitated the training session, had everyone pair up and soon enough, the volunteers were seen with their arms skillfully bandaged in a sling; or their wrists in a figure-8 bandage. With live demonstration, Quek taught the participants the techniques of moving an unconscious person into recovery position and the Heimlich maneuver to help someone who was choking.
Mae Teo, a new volunteer who works as an administrative assistant, was excited to revisit the basic first aid techniques she learned when she was in Red Cross. Many of the volunteers who attended the session found the experience useful and enjoyable; and look forward to other courses to equip them to becoming better volunteers.
CHCSA has been established since March 1996 and has a pool of strong and dedicated volunteers in various areas such as serving the elderly, youth, families, terminally-ill and hearing-impaired. Through a win-win strategy of volunteer management and empowerment, they conduct improvement courses to equip the volunteers with skills.
For more information on volunteer and training opportunities, contact Eden Sim at edensim@chcsa.org.sg.
