St Ives Sailing Club improve lifesaving skills

St Ives Sailing Club First Aid Training © Simon Ashmore

St Ives Sailing Club kicked off May with a First Aid Training Day run by Kate Woolven of First Aid and Swim Training (FAST). Commodore John Palser said "Our sport is inherently risky and this training has meant that we are better prepared to care for our own members, but our safety boat might also be first on the scene for any other person in difficulty in St Ives Bay & its crew now know what to do."

Pictured is FAST's Kate Woolven helping club member Marc Paxton get to grips with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Kate stressed the importance of this simple but lifesaving technique throughout the course. She told us: "If I could spend a few minutes imparting one piece of first aid knowledge to everyone in the country, it would be CPR." Also included in the training was how to use St Ives's new defibrillators, funded by Rotary Club of St Ives. One is already in place at The Station and more are planned for other locations in the town.

Thanks to Tregenna Lodge, the club were given the use of St Ives Masonic Hall free of charge to run the course, which was attended by 7 club members including John Johnson from St Ives Boat Rides. Everyone who attended was awarded The Royal Yachting Association's First Aid Qualification and an additional endorsement to use Category C Medical Stores.

All those attending thanked club member Martin Rawling, who organised the training, and Kate Woolven for making the subject engaging and above all good fun. The club would also like to thank everyone who gave up their free time to the benefit of those whose lives may one day be saved.

www.stivessailingclub.com