RBR Members Complete Medical Training
Twelve members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment [RBR] became better equipped to respond to emergency medical situations thanks to a course provided by St John Ambulance Bermuda.
A spokesperson said, “A combination of hands-on and theory-based instruction was delivered to a group that included soldiers from the battalion’s medics section as well as its Coast Guard and Junior Leaders units.
“St John Ambulance is one of the oldest charities on the island and teaches valuable life-saving skills through accredited training programmes.
“At its base on Point Finger Road, RBR students took part in its certifying emergency medical responder course over two weeks.
“Josh Correia, a St John Ambulance instructor and licensed paramedic, said that the programme taught the soldiers how to provide emergency treatment on the scene of an incident to help save a life.”
He noted the soldiers’ “solid progression of skills” over the duration of the course.
“These students can now proficiently perform an appropriate medical and trauma assessment on both a simple trauma and a multi-system trauma casualty to provide the necessary care to get the patient, hopefully, to definitive treatment, such as a trauma surgery centre,” Mr Correia added.
“This course provides them with a solid framework of what they need to know in order to provide emergency care to help prevent further injury or death.
“Once they have this framework, they will be able to take that into the field and apply it to the different situations and scenarios that they may be exposed to.”
A spokesperson added, “Included in the training were procedures for lifting and moving patients; CPR and airway management; bleeding, shock and soft tissue injuries; vehicle extraction and special rescue; and environmental injuries.
“Students had regular opportunities to practise their skills throughout and were assessed by exams as the course concluded on Saturday, April 11.
“Among the participants was Private Ryan Gibbons, an RBR medic, who thoroughly enjoyed the programme.”
He reflected: “This is instrumental to what I want to do, and it makes me a better medic, it makes me a better citizen and more able to help in my jobs outside the Regiment and even among family.”
A spokesperson added, “Pte Gibbons believes his ability to respond more competently in a real-life situation has increased as a result of the course.”
“It helps that I was taught and coached by full-time medical responders,” he said. “The EMTs at St John have given an official knowledge base that makes me more confident.”
Private Stevontae Somersall-Ahknaton, a member of the RBR Coast Guard, said: “The possibility of me encountering somebody with a medical emergency is a little bit higher in my role, as I may have to respond to somebody in distress on the water. I now have increased confidence and knowledge around how to facilitate that.
“If I need to provide an emergency medical response to someone, that person can be confident that I have received the necessary training to do so.”
She highlighted how the course also provided her with skills that could be called upon in other areas of life.
“Anywhere I go – even as a mother with my child or at my work as a bar tender – I know that if something was to happen, I have the knowledge to assist,” Pte Somersall-Ahknaton said.
“I have grandparents and great aunties that are getting a little older and might need a little help or medical assistance, I am confident enough to assist them.”
