St John Ambulance celebrating success

Over 100 volunteers took part in the District Finals - competitions held by St John Ambulance which are designed to test and display the expertise of St John Ambulance personnel, the event demonstrates the high standard of first aid and care delivered to local communities by the well-known charity.

Volunteers took part in adult competitions whilst the younger members of St John Ambulance Cadets and Badgers had their own respective challenges.

Keen rivalry was generated between volunteers as they competed for prestigious silver cups presented originally by eminent medical practitioners from Northern Ireland such as the late Sir Ian Frazer FRCS. The winners of these competitions will now go forward to compete in the St John National Finals in England in October.

Chairperson of St John Ambulance Northern Ireland, C T Hogg, attended the competitions as a special guest and presented the awards, and commenting on the talent and expertise on display, he said: “We encourage all our volunteers to take part in these competitions to test and enhance their first aid skills.

“Using first aid either individually or within teamwork can mean the difference between life and death so it is of huge benefit that so many St John Ambulance volunteers have the knowledge and confidence to make a difference in an emergency”.

The Belmont Division A team won the Belfast Challenge, Laverty and Hall Cups for the adult first aid team challenge. They also scooped the Johnstone Cup for best presentation and turn out. Alan Petticrew, YMCA/Ashfield Division, was awarded the Fraser Cup for Adult Male First Aid, and Linda Heaney (Belmont) and Ruth McFaul (Larne) shared the Brennan Cup for Adult Female First Aid.

The Frazer Cup, for best presentation and smart turnout, went to the Coleraine and YMCA/Ashfield Division teams.

The Knight’s shield, for Adult Caring, was awarded to Eileen Jones (Belmont) and Graham Scott (Newtownards) was awarded the Greer Cup, for Individual First Aid for Health Care Professionals.

The Northland Cadet Division A team collected the District Surgeon’s and Boyce Cup for Cadet First Aid team challenge.

The Watson Cup for Cadet Uniform First Aid was awarded to the Northland Cadet Division B team. The Stewart Shield was awarded to Gareth McDaid (Northland Cadet) for Cadet Male First Aid and Aoife Carson (Northland) received the Nursing Cadet Cup for female first aid.

Lisnagelvin A and B Cadet teams won the Lockhart Cup for Cadet Care Team Test.

The Garrett Cup for Cadet Uniform Care was awarded to Belmont A team. The YMCA/Ashfield team received the Birnie Cup for Cadet First Aid Team Test.

Maolisa Clarke (Northland) was awarded the Gowdy Cup for Cadet Individual Care Test

The Lisnagelvin Badgers team won the Badgers First Aid Competition. The Adult, Cadet and Badger team winners will now go on to England to represent Northern Ireland in the National First Aid competitions in October.

Basic First Aid can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved and is a vital skill for everyone. St. John Ambulance has been caring for life in Northern Ireland since 1881.

Every year the charity carries out commercial activities to fund its charitable work including First Aid Training and trains over 10,000 people in first aid and health and safety related training courses for the workplace. St John Ambulance Northern Ireland has 750 adult volunteers who delivered a total of 45,000 hours of service in 2010 alone. The charity embraces all sections of the community and through its youth, section offers a wide range of activities to over 1000 young people under the age of 25.

For more information on St John Ambulance services visit www.ni.sja.org.uk or telephone the organisation on 028 9079 9393.