Good turnout at Trinidad & Tobago Red Cross 'Open Day'

Trinidad & Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS) enjoyed the keen interest from almost everyone passing by its booth on the Brian Lara Promenade, at the organization’s “Open Day” on Friday May 12 .

What community do you live in? Do you have a plan of action in case of a disaster? And: Do you know that the Red Cross helps to build community disaster preparedness?

A few minutes into his lunch break, Martin Cheekong, 45, was engulfed in a conversation on Disaster Preparedness. As many others, Cheekong took the opportunity to learn more about the Red Cross.

“Now I know that it is not pretty”

Alongside the volunteers at the Disaster Preparedness Stand, HIV/AIDS drew the crowd in with a display of photographs of different symptoms from sexually transmitted diseases. Once curious – and appalled – people could turn around to learn more about HIV/AIDS and how to stay protected from the virus.

Twenty-two year old Melissa Stoute picked up a couple of brochures and left more informed than when she arrived at the stand.

“The pictures are gross… and scary. I didn’t know about the sores and that. I know a little about HIV/AIDS from school, and I have picked up some leaflets here. Now I also know that it is not a very pretty sight and that there are several ways to protect yourself”, Stoute said after her visit.

First Aid lesson in the line

In the next tent, Alice Agard, 52, having just received the result of her blood sugar test, waited to have her blood pressure tested. While lined up, she and others learned how to bandage a broken arm from the First Aid team.

“This is very good, and very informative,” Agard said. “I know a little first aid – how to deal with simple burns – but not how to handle a bandage”. Having once been a Red Cross Volunteer herself, Agard expressed the wish that the Red Cross would do more to be visible and that more people knew first aid.

“Take yesterday for instance, when the explosion happened (a nuts-seller’s cart exploded May 11 and injured a few people), nobody knew what to do and the injured had to wait until the ambulance came,” Agard stated.

More first aiders, volunteers

In the future, more people will be able to help if they pass an accident, as 127 visitors to the booth signed up for a First Aid course, while eight people filled out the form to join the TTRCS as volunteers. At the end of the Open Day, cash donations in the amount of TT$145 had been made.

“It was a good day”, concluded Ms Lisa Lalsingh., Director General. “With hurricane season coming up, we can use all the help we can get to have people trained in first aid, have communities prepared for disasters, and donations being received in order to help the most vulnerable.”