St John encourages sports lovers to learn 1st aid

St John Media Release                                   8 February 2008

St John encourages sports lovers to learn sports first aid

St John is encouraging everyone involved in sport, athletics and exercise – including spectators – to sign up for a St John Sports First Aid Course.

“Knowing what to do on the scene of a sports or exercise-related accident or medical emergency can make all the difference to a patient’s recovery,” St John Chief Executive Jaimes Wood says.

St John this week [Tuesday 5 February] announced a new partnership with NZ Cricket, with St John the Charity of Choice for the BLACKCAPS national men’s cricket team for two years.

Together, St John and the BLACKCAPS are encouraging New Zealanders to have morecommunity participation in sport, adopt healthier lifestyles and get more involved in awareness of injury prevention and first aid  St John and NZ Cricket are also working together to raise funds for St John services including ambulance, first aid and community programmes.

“The St John Sports First Aid Course gives people the skills and confidence to provide immediate care to an injured or unwell person on a cricket pitch, rugby field, netball court, horse riding event or at any other sport or athletics event,” Mr Wood said.

“We strongly encourage all sports people, athletes, clubs, coaches, managers, gyms, parents, schools, event organisers, fans and anyone else with an interest in sport to seriously consider doing a St John Sports First Aid Course.”

The course teaches practical skills including injury prevention, bleeding control and the resuscitation technique CPR. Trainees are taught how to provide initial care for concussion, head injuries, fractures, dislocations, soft tissue injuries, spinal injuries, tooth injuries and generally how to assist with any sporting injury.

Trainees are taught how to assess whether a patient needs further treatment – including whether they should be taken to a doctor or medical clinic, or whether an ambulance is required. If it is a serious emergency, trainees will learn what to do while an ambulance is on the way.

“St John has been providing first aid and emergency care services at events for more than 120 years.  Most fans and sports people are familiar with the sight of uniformed St John members and ambulances at sports events and other public events,” Mr Wood said.

“Now we are going the extra step to empower New Zealanders to themselves help make a difference on the scene, building community resilience and supporting our ambulance services.”

Background

The St John Sports First Aid Course was designed by Sports Medicine New Zealand and is endorsed by ACC and SPARC (Sport & Recreation New Zealand).

To book a St John Sports First Aid Course, phone0800 STJOHN (0800 785 646)

The price per person is $115 including GST. Participants must be over 16 years of age to attend the course.

St John Sports First Aid Course are available at the following locations between February and June 2008:
Auckland (Mt Wellington):  16 February, 15 March, 20 April, 15 and 18 May, 7 June 2008
Hamilton:  24 February, 25 May 2008
Palmerston North:  1 March 2008
Christchurch:  16 March, 17 April, 8 June 2008
Dunedin:  26 April, 28 June 2008
Invercargill:  29 March 2008, 7 June 2008

St John offers a wide range of First Aid courses including Workplace First Aid and Basic Life Support (CPR). Specialist courses include Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, Oxygen Therapy, Electrical Worker's Safety Refresher Courses, Babysitter Courses and Emergency Scenario Workshops.

Fees from St John First Aid courses go towards supporting the work of St John, including ambulance services and other community initiatives.

As part of the St John and NZ Cricket partnership, the public are encouraged to support St John by text messaging the word CARE to 883 to donate $3 and by phoning 0900 ST JOHN (0900 785 646) to make an automatic $20 donation at any time.  The usual St John donation channels also remain open.
 
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