Thirty Honeydew CPF patrollers received practical emergency response training from Netcare 911 to improve their ability to assist during medical emergencies in the community on Saturday.

According to Honeydew CPF public relations officer Michael Steyn, the first group of 30 patrollers attended the training, which covered helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) safety procedures, basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and bleeding control.

During the HEMS session, patrollers learnt about preparing helicopter landing zones, including safety requirements, wind direction and landing zone dimensions. They were also taught how to assist emergency medical teams with road closures and securing landing areas.

The CPR component introduced participants to basic techniques and the initial response required during a cardiac emergency. The training was introductory and did not constitute formal certification.

Patrollers also received practical guidance on controlling severe bleeding through the Stop the Bleed component. This included applying direct pressure, using pyramid dressings, tourniquet demonstrations and an introduction to haemostatic agents.

Steyn said the opportunity to learn these skills was important.

“We never know when these skills may be needed, but having the knowledge and ability to respond when it matters most is truly invaluable,” he said.

He said the commitment shown by Netcare in sharing its knowledge and educating the patrollers made the initiative particularly meaningful.

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“It is wonderful that our patrollers have the opportunity to attend these training sessions, but what makes it even more special is the time and commitment Netcare has dedicated to training and educating our team members,” Steyn said.

According to Steyn, the skills acquired could one day make a significant difference when an emergency occurs.

“These are skills that cannot be replaced and could one day make all the difference,” he said.

“It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm, participation and interaction from our patrollers throughout the morning. Even more rewarding was seeing how much knowledge they gained and how eager everyone was to learn,” Steyn said.

He thanked Netcare 911 for giving its time to the training and acknowledged the 30 patrollers who attended for their commitment to learning. Steyn added that being a patroller involved more than maintaining a visible presence in the community.

“At Honeydew CPF, we believe that being a patroller is about more than just being visible in our community. It is also about being prepared, having the right knowledge and knowing how to respond when an emergency arises.”