Johnathan Bell and Chris Lomond are anticipating a busy summer with the St. John Ambulance volunteer medical responders division in Charlottetown.
The division recently opened again in February after closing its doors in 2006.
Bell and Lomond, who are leading the division, are looking to get the word out that they are ready to provide their skills at public events around P.E.I., including festivals, concerts, community barbecues and sporting events.
“Basically, anything where there is any kind of public engagement,” explained Lomond, who is from Truro, N.S. “We are here to help.”
Bell said having trained volunteer medical responders at an event gives people peace of mind.
“Anytime there is a group of people, there should be someone there with at least first aid training,” said Bell. “Personally, I would feel more comfortable if I was at a gathering where there was a first aid booth.”
They also note that five of their seven volunteers are trained medical first responders.
Lomond, who is a first-year paramedicine student at Holland College, said medical first responders are halfway between a first-aider and paramedic.
They are trained to respond to traumatic calls, including penetrating wounds, blunt force traumas, heart attack and stroke.
They can provide oxygen therapy, splints, CPR and basic first aid and have an automated external defibrillator on hand.
“If there is someone who goes into cardiac arrest where every second matters, we have the equipment to assist them,” said Bell.
Bell and Lomond recently provided their services during a dodgeball tournament at Holland College.
They only had to provide basic first aid, like handing out ice for bruises and Band-Aids for scrapes, but they had at least 16 people ask them for help.
Bell and Lomond feel having a St. John Ambulance volunteer medical responder division is an important service to have in the community.
They describe their division as a dedicated group of individuals who are looking forward to giving back to the community.
An official location for the division has yet to be established. They are hoping for more equipment and volunteers as the division grows.
Although there is no cost for their services, the division works off donations from event organizers to help replenish supplies and support training opportunities.
Anyone interested in having volunteer medical responders at an event can visit www.sjaresponder.ca.
