Staffers at the Chapala Country Club and the Vista del Lago homeowners association are now well prepared to come to the rescue in medical emergencies after completing a course in advanced first-aid techniques conducted by Cruz Roja Chapala.
The 18 trainees gained hands-on practice in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), handling burns, broken bones and other injuries, as well as theory on assessing accident scenes and common health crises. The group included kitchen and restaurant employees, office workers and subdivision guards
Put together under the title Seis Acciones para Salvar una Vida, the three training sessions comprising 24 hours of instruction were led by Chapala Red Cross paramedics Ramon Ledesma and Julio Raygoza, under the coordination of medical advisor Maria Elena Echeveste and the golf club’s vice president Fran Smartt.
“In addition to mastering basic treatment methods, the students learned about dealing with emergency situations to understand whether it is advisable to immediately intervene or better to stand back and call for expert assistance,” Echeveste said. She noted that Cruz Roja can arrange to offer the first-aid program to other interested organizations.
“Considering the age group of our members and the club’s distance from local medical facilities, our personnel acquired vital knowledge and abilities that may be needed to save someone’s life,” Smartt said at the July 17 graduation ceremony. “Offering the course also showed employees that they are highly valued members of the community. Their concentration and commitment to learning has been amazing.”
Each of the graduates received a diploma and basic first-aid kit in reward for their efforts.
Look for a one-minute video clip posted on YouTube to watch the group practice CPR skills, appropriately set to a fast-beat musical backdrop of the Bee Gees hit ”Stayin’ Alive.”
And stay tuned for news of the country club’s annual Cruz Roja benefit golf tournament, scheduled for November 5.