Galway Red Cross picked up three awards at the recent All-Ireland Red Cross Cadet and Novice First Aid competitions. The competitions were for cadets aged 10 to 16 and novices from 16 to 18 and were held in the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny. There are two competitions in each grade, an individual event and a team competition which consists of four first aiders.
The Galway first aiders walked away with two firsts and a second place finish. Buddy Cox, Jessica Cox, Gary Sullivan, and Elle Rose O’Flaherty won the cadet team event, the novice individual was claimned by Leanne Sullivan, while Eilish O’Malley came second in the individual event. Due to a lack of members at the required age group, Galway did not enter the novice team event.
The competitions consist of several staged accidents in which the competitors must access, diagnose, and treat the injuries of the casualties. The injuries are presented with fake blood and protruding bones and are made up by the Casualties Union which provides this service to the organisers. The competitions give experience to first aiders so that they can deal with a potential live situation in a calm and planned way.
Marie Geary is the area director of units for Galway: “When first aiders arrive on the scene of an accident they are often faced with casualties or by-standers that are stressed and panicking, what these competitions provide is a simulated environment which allows our first aiders gain valuable experience should they encounter these incidents in real life.”
The Red Cross provides first aid training for all ages and holds unit meetings on Tuesdays in Fr Griffin Road for cadets and novices and Wednesday nights in Moneenageshia school for seniors. For more details contact Marie Geary on 087-7972032.
