Volunteer responders strengthen Pretoria emergency preparedness

Pretoria residents are being encouraged to learn basic life-saving skills as volunteer emergency organisations continue working together to strengthen emergency response across the city and surrounding areas.

Emergency response organisations say collaboration between volunteer groups and professional emergency services is helping to ensure that patients receive assistance sooner, while community training initiatives are equipping ordinary residents with the confidence to act during emergencies.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT-SA) Public Relations officer, Tanya Nieuwenhuizen said the organisation’s extends beyond responding to emergencies.

“Our dream is to build a community that doesn’t feel helpless during an emergency. We want ordinary people to have the confidence and knowledge to help until professional responders arrive,” she said.

Nieuwenhuizen said CERT-SA, which has been serving Centurion and surrounding areas for the past 12 years, regularly presents practical training in first aid, CPR, scene safety, fire awareness and emergency preparedness.

“Knowing how to react during those first critical moments can save a life. You don’t need to become a paramedic to make a difference, you simply need the right training,” she explained.

She added that the organisation wants every household to have at least one person capable of responding during an emergency before professional responders arrive.

Volunteer Emergency Medical Response Unit (VEMRU) founder, Casper Visser said co-operation between volunteer emergency organisations plays an important role in improving response times.

“We are in constant communication with other non-profit service organisations to get the closest emergency vehicle to the scene,” said Visser.

He explained that community members who know CPR can make a significant difference during medical emergencies.

“Chances of survival decreases exponentially with time passing in a cardiac arrest case, so layperson CPR can have major life-saving impact, especially if there are delays in emergency services,” he shared.

Visser added that VEMRU regularly trains alongside other non-profit organisations to make sure all our volunteers know what to do if an emergency strikes.

“We also have community awareness days where free training gets offered to anyone who wants to learn,” he said.

He encouraged residents to become involved in volunteer organisations where possible.

“Knowing what to do in an emergency can save a life easier than you might think. Getting involved with a non-profit of any kind and in any role can be incredibly emotionally rewarding,” he added.

Best Care Emergency Medical Service paramedic, Xander Loubser said collaboration between emergency organisations benefits communities because no single can reach every patient immediately.

“We welcome any emergency support from non-profit initiative or a first responder organisation because we can’t get to every patient. This collaboration enables the patient to get quicker response, even though it’s first responder stabilisation initially,” said Loubser.

Loubser believes first aid and CPR should become everyday life skills.

“This something that should be a school subject. It’s not a course that someone learns. It’s a life skill that’s applicable to everyday life,” he explained.

He said Best Care Emergency Medical Service continues supporting community education through volunteer initiatives, including free CPR workshops planned for August.

Loubser also appealed top residents to support volunteer emergency organisations.

“These volunteer services rely on fuel, equipment and logistics that enable the volunteers to do what they need to do. Support the local volunteer services because those are the people that work hand in hand with the emergency services. Without their support, it would be darker days in the South African healthcare system,” he said.

The organisations encouraged residents to take advantage of available emergency preparedness training, saying the knowledge gained could one day help save a life of a family member, neighbour or even a stranger before emergency responders arrive.

Residents interested in improving their emergency response skills will have several opportunities to receive training in the coming weeks. CERT-SA will host an Emergency Scene Safety course on August 8. Best Care Emergency Medical Service’s Emergency Support Team will present free CPR workshops at Totiusdal Primary School Rugby Field on August 15, and at Mayville Primary School on August 2, with both sessions running from 10:00 to 14:00.

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