140 volunteers to receive sea rescue training
Training will be provided by St John Ambulance and Rescue
Some 140 volunteers are to receive sea rescue training under a government-funded scheme operated by St John Ambulance and Rescue (SJAR).
The scheme will also equip the voluntary organisation with a new rescue vehicle and cover an education campaign for some 400 students.
Funds of €20,000 to support the scheme were provided by the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector within the Ministry for Inclusion and Voluntary Affairs.
The scheme was announced during an activity organised by the SJAR, during which Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia took part in a rescue demonstration in a swimming pool, the ministry said in a statement.
Minister Julia Farrugia (second from left) took part in a demonstration during the launch. Photo: DOI.The SJAR training equips volunteers with skills in ground rescue, firefighting, rescue from high places, first aid and other disciplines related to acting in an emergency situation.
The awareness campaign will run from July until September next year, with interactive sessions in schools and youth centres. An educational booklet will also be published and distributed to children taking part in the scheme.
Rapid Rescue Vehicles (RRVs) are equipped with medical and emergency rescue equipment. The new RRV will be used during the training sessions.
St John Ambulance and Rescue will be equipped with a new vehicle under the scheme. Photo: DOI.Farrugia said the project continued to build on education about water safety: “This is exactly why we started a national campaign of teaching swimming for children between three and five years old, because we believe that knowledge and skills acquired from an early age can save lives”.
She thanked the SJAR for its participation. The organisation’s operations commissioner, Christopher Borg Cardona, stressed the importance of schemes like that provided by the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector.
Council chief executive Mauro Pace Parascandalo remarked that it was gratifying to see projects financed by council funds realised.