The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre hosted a first aid competition for volunteers to test the level of preparedness and skills in assisting during emergencies.
The popular event was well attended with seven firefighting and eight first aid teams competing for top honours. Participants represented areas such as Atlantis, Milnerton, Scottsdene, Ottery, Mitchell’s Plain and Strand. The first aid teams level of qualification varied from Level one to level three First Aiders.
The competition simulated various real life emergency scenarios. The first aid category tested the role of a first aider to provide immediate, lifesaving and medical care before the arrival of further medical help.
The following teams took to the podium as overall winners;
· Fire Fighting winners – Mitchell’s Plain A
· First Aid winners – Ottery A
For the category of best team captain, Leandro De Carvalho took the honours.
DRMC volunteers play an important supportive role in bolstering the capacity of assistance to communities during disasters. The DRMC volunteers not only assist during various educational and awareness sessions but also provide assistance in emergencies such as flooding and extreme episodes of storms causing damage to property and increased life threatening risks.
‘The Disaster Risk Management Centre created this platform to encourage volunteers to practice and improve skills, thereby ensuring that they can perform and execute First Aid during disasters and in extreme situations. The competition also strengthened the morale of volunteer units, its members and City officers. The competition provided an opportunity to test volunteer training and taught everyone to accurately assess the situation, act appropriately, and be more conscious of safety in their own home, workplace and community. In this way our volunteers are ambassadors for the City of Cape Town and act as role models and a motivation for other members of the community to also become part of the volunteer corps, said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
