Team Training - Saturday 5 August 2017
6th August 2017On Saturday 5 August 2017 the team assembled at the Tom Weir statue at Balmaha for a briefing and a photo opportunity of people wearing their new team Keela jackets.
We travelled to the island of Inchcailloch by boats - one group took a boat and guest Bill Barrington MBE to Port Bawn whilst two groups went to the north pier and walked across the island, taking different routes, to arrive at Port Bawn.
Following some lunch, we covered some First Responder training before practising throwing rescue lines for a casualty in the loch and refresher training for those who are qualified to drive our boats and basic initial boat handling skills for others.
Four hours later we headed back to Balmaha.
We were delighted to host Bill Barrington MBE (96yrs), father of our oldest member Sion (71). Having been in the army and fought at Algiers, Salerno and gone ashore at Normandy on D-Day some 73 yrs ago, Bill commented on the rough waves heading out to Port Bawn by saying "at least nobody is firing bullets at me this time."
Bill enjoyed a picnic and the glorious sunshine before returning to Balmaha on flat calm waters.
A short round-up of July included our volunteers delivering 2 Heartstart classes and 3 drop in sessions so that 50 people learned vital skills such as CPR and how to use a defibrillator.
Our members have also responded to 3 medical emergencies for the Scottish Ambulance Service at Dumgoyne, Kinlochard and Callander.
So far in 2017, we have helped 633 people learn how to perform CPR and save a life, through 35 classes/sessions.
We have responded to 10 medical emergencies including 2 where the patients were in cardiac arrest and successfully resuscitated - now home with their families.
We have responded to one search for Police Scotland.
All volunteers, no government funding, saving lives!
