St. John Ambulance in Canada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

St. John Ambulance Canada Logo.

In Canada, St. John Ambulance (SJA) is a very well known organization and is the most successful non-profit first aid training organization, world wide. St. John Ambulance Canada serves the community through many different mechanisms, as described below. The St. John Ambulance mission is to enable Canadians to improve their health, safety and quality of life by providing training and community service.

1 History
2 Training
3 Volunteer Brigade
4 Therapy Dog
5 We Can Help
6 Friends of the Emergency Room
7 Youth Programs
8 Disaster Planning and Aid
9 See Also
10 End material
- 10.1 Footnotes
11 External links
- 11.1 Official websites
- 11.2 Other related websites

[edit] History

St. John Ambulance was founded in Canada in 1882. Under this banner, volunteers from coast-to-coast carry out the humanitarian services of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

In 1897 the Dominion Council of Canada was estalished in Ottawa to give legitimacy to the operations of St John Ambulance Brigade in Canada. At the same time St. John Ambulance Brigade activities commenced in the territories of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

1933 saw the Dominion Council of Canada becoming the Commandery of Canada due its increasing activity and social need for first aid services and training.

In 1946 the Priory of Canada of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem was established just after the Second World War in recognition first of the expanding role and activities of the St John Ambulance Association and the St John Ambulance Brigade throughout Canada and second for the need to transfer the governance of the Order to the national capital where needs are understood.

[edit] Training

Led by a highly skilled network of medical and health care professionals, St. John Ambulance is the national leader in first aid, setting the standard for training in first aid, CPR and other life-saving skills. St. John Ambulance also offers many advanced level courses including the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) in several provinces, as well as operating the Maritime School of Paramedicine in Nova Scotia.

[edit] Volunteer Brigade

The St. John Ambulance Volunteer Brigade is a group of trained volunteers that serve their community in a variety of ways, including first aid services at public events, support in times of emergency or disaster, and youth programs that encourage community service and personal development.

SJA provides patient care and first responder services at public events throughout Canada with the volunteer Brigade, much in the same way as in England. Brigade members in Canada wear a similar uniform, and are trained to a high level of First Aid, including the new Medical First Responder (MFR) program. ^[1]

St. John Ambulance has over 25,000 members in more than 300 communities across Canada of all ages.

[edit] Therapy Dog

St. John Ambulance recognizes that many people spend time isolated from their families, often in hospitals, seniors' residences or nursing homes. It was a natural extension for St. John Ambulance to look for a way to care for these people.

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program began in Peterborough, Ontario and has expanded across the country. Partnerships have been established in hospitals, palliative care units, day care centres, senior residences, rest homes, special needs schools and psychiatric hospitals where people are often restricted from having pets.

The medical profession has for many years widely acknowledged that petting and stroking pets can have a calming effect, lowering blood pressure and relieving tension with people.

Many stroke patients will lift their "useless" hand to feel the touch of soft hair. Alzheimer patients unable to remember what they had for lunch will chatter about the dog they had for many years. Those who can walk receive pleasure from holding a dog's lead and walking the corridors. The completely paralyzed Multiple Sclerosis patient is able to cuddle a small dog on their bed.

The Therapy Dog Program takes a volunteer and their dog into organizations on a weekly basis. Through regular visiting, a bond is created between the client, dog and volunteer.

[edit] We Can Help

St. John Ambulance provides elementary school students with the We Can Help Program, which provides children with an introduction to first aid skills and basic injury prevention messages, is designed for children ages seven through ten. Children today are often given a great deal of responsibility, and the intention of this program is to ensure that their knowledge of safety is as strong as possible.

[edit] Friends of the Emergency Room

The Friends of the Emergency Room program volunteers provide comfort and support services to people who access the emergency department at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Alberta.

The Friends are an important part of the emergency room care team. Friends are there to provide patients and their companions with comfort and support while in the waiting room.

[edit] Youth Programs

Youth in SJA Canada are a very important part of the organization as well. The proficiency program allows youth members to gain the Grand Prior's award, as well as work toward the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The program is designed to meet the requirements of the Grand Prior's Award, and also give youth valuable life skills. In addition to this, youth members are given the opportunity to perform community service and patient care, provided that they are supervised by trained adult members.

[edit] Disaster Planning and Aid

In times of emergency, SJA Canada is on standby, waiting to provide Disaster Relief and Emergency services to the area. Exactly what procedure is taken greatly depends on what area a division or member resides in and varies due to training and availability or supplies and equipment.