WITHOUT local First Aiders, many of Swan Hill’s most cherished sporting and community events could not take place.
With the recent loss of four Mallee First Aid (MFA) members, the group are on the lookout for new volunteers interested in helping out during the year’s events, including the short course cars and motorbike competitions at Chisholm Reserve, the polo cross, Swan Hill netball and the Swan Hill Show.
Ex-nurse and long time MFA volunteer Beryl Lowe said learning First Aid is a rewarding way to contribute to the health of the Swan Hill community.
“I thought, with the [nursing] knowledge that I’ve got, why waste it? With First Aid you’re giving something back to the community and you meet a nice lot of people.”
Sporting events can’t begin until the First Aid team have arrived and Ms Lowe said there was always a ripple of relief when MFA arrived.
“People are more than appreciative. They know when we get there, they can start,” she said.
A weekend First Aid course at Murray ACE will see you become a registered First Aider, with a CPR update then required every year.
Ms Lowe said First Aid was often an eye opening experience but assured potential new members the skills were worth it.
“I’ve seen broken legs and dislocated shoulders. There’s nothing scary about it, unless you don’t like blood. It can be confronting at times but you take it in your stride.”
For more on this story pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (February 3, 2016).
