Twenty-seven women on Monday commenced a week-long training exercise in general first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the proper use of an automated external defibrillator at the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS), as part of the three-component Care for the Elderly workshop spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady.
Director General of the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS), Dorothy Fraser (second from right) and Lieutenant Colonel Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady (first, right) among facilitators and participants at the opening of the first aid component of First Lady, Sandra Granger’s Care for the Elderly workshop
Director General of the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS), Dorothy Fraser told the participants that the training will teach them lifelong skills that they can use to save a life.
“It’s not just learning a new skill and something to do, but you’re going to be learning a lot of other things that you will take through the rest of your life,” she said.
Referencing the seven tenets of the Red Cross, which are Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality, Fraser told the group that it is vital that they practice impartiality when dealing with emergencies.
“Be… impartial, and that means that we make no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. Relieve the suffering of individuals guided solely by their needs and give priority to the most urgent cases of distress,” Fraser added.
The workshop is being hosted at the GRCS’s Barrack Street, Kingston location. On completion of this training, the participants will begin two weeks of training to care for the elderly at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
