PRESS RELEASE: You’re not too young to learn how to save a life. That’s one of the lessons learnt by Grade 2 students of Pioneer Prep when they visited the Dominica Red Cross (DRC).
The 18 students, ranging between 6 and 8 years, got a hands-on demonstration on Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), an emergency procedure for people in cardiac arrest or, in some circumstances, respiratory arrest. The training was conducted by the DRC’s Sile Pinard-Byrne and Kendel Laurent.
Ms. Pinard-Byrne says, “It’s always a joy for us when teachers take the initiative to expose their students to our organization, especially at this young age, because one is never too young to be sensitized to the work of the Red Cross and the role that we play in saving lives. Moreover, it is important that we recognize that each and every one of us, no matter how young or how old, has a part to play in ensuring that the loss of life is minimized during any incident, accident or disaster.”
Bernadette Vidal, the Class Teacher, who coordinated the visit, says it was part of the School’s Social Studies programme. “We expose the children to various groups and corporations and we know that the Red Cross is recognized around the world and their function in society is very important.
Additionally, we wanted to make them more aware of the needs of society such as persons who are suffering and disabled or challenged persons. With the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and the Montserrat eruptions and other natural disasters, I wanted them to have an idea of what can be done in these types of situations where there are injuries and what they can do to assist themselves and people around them,” she said.
Six-year old Hana Raffoul-André said, “The visit was exciting. I learnt how to save people when they are not breathing and what the Red Cross does to help people when there’s a disaster.”
An official invitation to form a Junior Branch of the Red Cross at the School was extended to Pioneer Prep whereby they will receive First Aid training and learn more about the Red Cross and its activities, be able to set up a Local Committee among the students and conduct fund-raising activities in aid of the organization.
The visit to the Red Cross was part of a day of activities that took the Grade 2 class to the Central Cooperative Credit Union, the Alpha Centre and the Workshop for the Blind.
Dominica Red Cross.
This is not about leading and others following and which school does it first. Rather, it is certainly the way to go. Every good and necessary thing we want to instill in our community/country must be started at a very young age, with the very young. Good initiative of Miss Vidal and the school, and well done to the Red Cross for accepting the challenge. Well done Miss Dorival. Disability is certainly not inability!
Well done!
This is great . I like that.
Big up the Dominica Red Croos & those who participated .
I am really impressed by this. It is very important to expose students to such important institutions on our island. One is never too young to learn. I can imagine the excitement that went through their minds during the demonstration and the other visits.
I would like to applaud Miss Vidal for coordinating these important visits. I don’t even remember such visits when I was in high School. That was in the 70’s though.
Keep up the good work Miss Vidal. The students will remember this for a long time to come.
well done …
Way to go to the Dominica Red Cross. Many a times these “old school” organizations are placed in the shadows when really they are the ones responsible for pushing our society.