EMS staff teach safety to the public
(CNS Local Life): In recognition of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, 19-25 May, the Health Services Authority’s (HSA) medical first responders hosted safety sessions throughout the island, teaching members of the public hands-only CPR and how to stop bleeding as well as demonstrating the proper usage of car seats.
“Each session’s turnout was excellent. It’s reassuring to know that people are interested in learning and being more proactive about life-saving practices,” said EMS manager Stephen Duval in an HSA press release. “CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival and hands-only CPR, when executed correctly, can be just as effective as conventional CPR.
“A person can die in 5-10 minutes due to uncontrolled bleeding. The stop-the-bleed training our team demonstrated can save a life. Using the correct car seat or booster seat can also be a lifesaver. We wanted to reemphasise the importance of basic car seat safety and ensure that all children are buckled up the right way on every ride.”
Safety sessions were held at Hurley’s Market, Foster’s Food Fair (Airport), Tukka and Eagle Ray’s Bar & Grill on 21-22 May. In addition to the public sessions, the EMS team hosted an EMS recognition luncheon and awards ceremony Friday, 24 May to honour their colleagues and stakeholders in emergency care, the release said.
All EMS staff were presented with certificates of appreciation, with special awards given out for outstanding service to Kendal Connor, Michael Blackburn and Alvaro Obando on Grand Cayman, and David Hurlston of Cayman Brac. David “Jayse” Wilson was awarded “EMS Officer of the Year”.
“We honour our EMS providers, whose selfless devotion and outstanding efforts help save countless lives each year,” HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood said. “As the first link to emergency medical care, EMS personnel are a crucial component of our healthcare system. This month, and always, we express our unending gratitude and respect to the fine men and women of our EMS staff for their continued dedication to excellence in emergency care.”
Category: Community, Medical and Health
