St. John Ambulance Week proclaimed in Barrie

St. John Ambulance week, June 22nd to June 28th is a celebration that pays special tribute to St. John Ambulance volunteers in our community who give of themselves to improve the health, safety and quality of life of Canadians by providing training and community services. St. John Ambulance is celebrating their 125th anniversary of service in Ontario and has set aside St. John Ambulance week as a time to recognize, honour and celebrate the volunteers.

Community service is the backbone of St. John Ambulance. Volunteer time reduces the burden on the Canadian health care system and volunteering builds healthier communities. When a community need arises, St. John Ambulance volunteers are ready and able to help. When a natural or human disaster strikes, St. John Ambulance’s uniformed Medical First Response teams are there with advance first aid and life saving skills, experience and leadership. When companionship is needed, St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog handlers and their dogs offer warmth and friendship. Whenever and wherever people gather, event organizers and communities count on St. John Ambulance volunteers to be a familiar and comforting sight.

The Barrie Simcoe Muskoka branch volunteers were hard at work throughout 2008. The 60 Medical First Response members covered over 225 duties and treated over 350 casualties. These volunteers are trained to an advanced level first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The Therapy Dog program continues to be a successful community care offering with more than 10,440 service hours by trained dogs and their handlers. More and more the impact of these canine caregivers is felt as the therapy dog program reaches into new markets such as helping young ones to read.

The branch continues to engage Youth in a variety of ways and has begun strategic planning initiatives to help determine the future of the youth programs, and bolster youth engagement within the St. John Ambulance mission.

The Barrie Simcoe Muskoka branch has been an active member in our community for over 66 years. St. John Ambulance saves lives at work, home and play by teaching first aid to people at their work sites and to the general public so they know what to do when someone needs help. To celebrate 125 years of service in Ontario St. John Ambulance will be holding a free CPR seminar Saturday November 14, 2009 at Lampman Lane Community Centre in Barrie. For more information please check the website at www.sja.ca/on/barrie or contact the Barrie Simcoe Muskoka office at (705) 726-0991.