Archive for the ‘St John Ambulance Ireland’ tag
Just completed “Introduction to Children First” training
Being involved with both Scouting Ireland and St John Ambulance Ireland as a volunteer, and also a member of the Select Vestry of the local parish of the Church of Ireland. In all of these roles it is important for me to be up to date with the latest training about the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people. Therefore, this afternoon, I have completed the “Introduction to Children First” programme from Tusla – the Child and Family Agency. I then completed the online assessment, passed it, and received my certificate. On Tuesday evening coming, I will be completing the Child Protection and Safeguarding training from St John Ambulance Ireland.
Looking after the children in our society is important to me. As I live in the Republic of Ireland, and volunteer with organisations both here and in the United Kingdom, it means I need to be trained in both systems. The principles are, I am glad to say, rather similar.
I highly recommend the course to anyone working in Ireland who may come into contact with children. You can find the course at https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/
World Drowing Prevention Day – social media post for SJAI
Today, is World Drowning Prevention Day, and so I wrote a post for the Facebook page of St John Ambulance Ireland to raise awareness. I used information from the WHO, and Water Safety Ireland to give some facts and figures, together with an image from Pexels.com and Adobe Spark to create the image for the post.
Jason Turner MStJ RIP
When I joined St John Ambulance Ireland as a member of staff, one of my first contacts in the organisation was Jason Turner. Throughout all my time working in the Operations Department, he had been there as an adviser to me in my work, first of all as deputy director of the operations department, then as director, and then subsequently as a district officer of SJAI.
I remember many occasions when he got me to help him with preparation for the Emergency Medical Technician courses for which he was responsible. He even had me having a go at some of the multiple choice questions. I had not done the course, but he did say that on paper I should be able to pass. He even got me in one Saturday to be a patient for the trainee EMTs.
Since December 2018, following the failure of my kidneys, Jason kept in contact with me wishing me well. In recent months, I became aware that he himself was not well. We messaged every so often via WhatsApp or Facebook. Indeed, the day he died, I had been thinking of him when I was on dialysis and had intended to ring him to speak to him that evening. It was not to be.
Today, I watched his funeral mass online via webcam. I was a bit surprised to see pall bearers from St John Ambulance Ireland given the COVID-19 restrictions that we are all living with, but I am sure they were keeping within the restrictions. At least they were showing civic leadership by wearing face masks while still maintaining the black and white uniform of St John Ambulance.
In due course, I hope to get an address for Jason’s widow, so that I can send her a card.
