First Aid component of First Lady’s ‘Care for the Elderly’ Workshop opens today
Georgetown, Guyana – (August 21, 2017) The First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) five-day training component of the ‘Care for the Elderly’ Workshop for caregivers began today at the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS) headquarters in Barrack Street, Kingston. The training is a collaborative effort between the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Social Protection.
From L-R: Assistant First Aid Coordinator at the GRCS, Ms. Melisa Alstrom, First Aid Coordinator, Mr. De Vaughn Lewis, Secretary-General of the GRCS, Mrs. Dorothy Fraser, First Aid Instructor of the GRCS, Mr. Ewin Enmore, Lt. Col. (ret’d) of the Office of the First Lady, Yvonne Smith and First Aid Instructor of the GRCS, Ms. Andrea Phillips.
Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d), Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady reiterated the importance of attendance at each session, since this component is intense and is critical to certification. She encouraged the participants to pay keen attention during the sessions, so that they can be successful. “Put your best foot forward, give it your best shot,” she told the participants.
Secretary-General of the Guyana Red Cross Society, Mrs. Dorothy Fraser said that it is an honour and privilege to be part of the investment in women. “It is a wonderful experience to be able to work with people, who see the need and the value for training and the addition of skills for what they are going into. If people are to be successful caregivers, whether for young people or older people, it is important that they know first aid,” she said.
Mrs. Fraser said that it is a standard first aid course, but the women will be exposed to practical sessions on how to properly move persons and to take care of an injured person with a high level of assurance that it is being correctly executed.
Sessions will be conducted by First Aid Coordinator, Mr. De Vaughn Lewis, Assistant First Aid Coordinator, Ms. Melisa Alstrom and First Aid Instructors, Ms. Andrea Phillips and Mr. Ewin Enmore.
The 36 participants were drawn from various organisations, including the Women Across Differences (WAD), the Buxton Day Care Centre and the Lusignan Learning Centre. Following the First Aid component, they will be placed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Uncle Eddie’s Home and the Palms Geriatric Home for a one-day practical exercise.
The women completed the first component of the ‘Care for the Elderly’ Workshop on Friday last at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Lt. Col. (ret’d) Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady encourages participants to “put your best foot forward” during the opening of the First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) five-day training.
Secretary-General of the GRCS, Mrs. Dorothy Fraser encourages participants to make full use of the interactive sessions.