Importance of first aid training emphasised by Mayor of Barnet who praises St John Ambulance at their open day in Underhill

Mayor of Barnet Councillor Zahra Beg joined in a training session for skills in first aid when she visited an open day held at the Underhill headquarters of Barnet St John Ambulance.

Eha, a St John Cadet (see above), helped to provide practice during a session on how to treat a patient who has been choking and needs airway to be cleared – a task which the mayor set about with great enthusiasm.

“Learning first aid is so important, and it so encouraging to see at first hand the fantastic work done by St John Ambulance,” said councillor Beg.

“St John volunteers are part of the community, they live in our community, and they are all so well trained and they are all so keen to share that knowledge and expertise with local residents.”

Eha’s mother, Eva, who is a St John Youth Leader and First Aider, said her daughter was delighted to help at the training sessions which were held as part of St John’s Save a Life September campaign.

Councillor Beg was welcomed at the headquarters in Priory Grove, off Westcombe Drive, Underhill, by Sam McCully, the Barnet Network Lead and the Community Lead Winnie Bacon (see above).

Barnet St John Ambulance is made up of 64 volunteers – adults and cadets, plus Fellowship members who support the charitable work of St John – and Winnie Bacon said the aim of the open day was to provide lessons in basic life support and to underline the importance of learning first aid to save lives.

“By offering training in key first aid skills we hope we can give people the confidence to step in if an emergency ever happens and perhaps save a life.”

Emergency Responder Robert Bacon and First Aider Johnny Newport (see above) gave a demonstration of how to get a casualty into the recovery position after checking first for a response and whether the patient was breathing.

Johnny, who is studying medicine at Cambridge University, joined St John Ambulance five months ago.

“One of the other medical students at Cambridge introduced me to their work. I’m now one of the logistics officers for our first aid society at university so it’s great to have the chance to support my local St John Ambulance here in Barnet.

“Since being a volunteer with St John, the more I have realised how important it is to understand life-saving routines.”

Sam McCully showed visitors the equipment which is installed in one of the large St John Ambulance mobile treatment centres, four of which were purchased to support the London Olympic Games.

Barnet’s mobile centre is used to support major events across the country and in recent weeks went to the Notting Hill Carnival and then the Great North Run.

Volunteers take a smaller community support unit to local events. They will be attending the annual Barnet Christmas fayre in December.

The Barnet headquarters, which is the centre for St John Ambulance across the borough, was opened by the late Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in 1990.  The Duke of Westminster, President of the London District of St John, laid the foundation stone in 1989.