Eighty people working in health, emergency, government agencies and the local business community in Niue have had the latest in first aid training, thanks to a joint initiative between the Government of Niue and Hato Hato Hone St John (HHStJ).
HHStJ Senior First Aid Tutor Margaret Smith and two colleagues Sheree King and Glen ‘Ping’ Gould, have recently returned from teaching seven courses over four days in Niue’s capital Alofi.
Co-ordinated by the Niue Health Department, the Level 2 first aid course was the first in 12 years to be conducted on the island.
Margaret says the course covered basic life support training, general first aid, and managing first aid in an emergency. Two advanced resuscitation courses were also taught.
“Everyone who took part in the training was so engaged and open to learn. I love teaching, and teaching over there was an amazing experience. We all had a brilliant time,” she says.
Known as ‘the rock” Niue has a total land area of 260km and a population of around 1820.
“Having as many people as possible knowing first aid and basic life-saving skills is vital. Knowing that the people we taught can now share their knowledge is not only great for their families and communities they live in – but the island as a whole.”
For both Sheree and Ping, seeing how happy, friendly and resilient the locals were, was one of the highlights for them.
With limited training space at the Niue Foou Hospital, courses were also held at a the Scenic Matavai Resort Niue and the local police station.
The visit was funded by the Government of Niue and its Health Department – which also purchased four new Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the island.
Ping said those students in the advanced resuscitation course were “fully engaged” with all the advanced resuscitation skills and learning how to use the AEDs.
“The students were amazing and even wanted to practise airway management in their breaks. When I realised how important this was to them, I adapted the course to fit their needs.”
A lot of the team’s trip was planned from the Niue side by former Wellington paramedic Oscilyna ‘Kiu’ Kulatea, who is now working in Niue.
“Kiu was so great and helped us a lot. It was nice to have someone who works there in health assisting us,” Margaret says.
For the trio, it was their first time to Niue, and Margaret said they were struck by how hot and humid it was.
“When they opened the door of the plane we were like ‘oh my God’ the heat was intense.”
And then there were the chickens.
“As soon as we got there we went to sign up for our rental car and all they told us was ‘don’t run over the chickens’,” she laughed.
“Chickens and roosters roamed free everywhere… one rooster in particular liked waking us up at 5am every morning.”
All three said they would jump at the chance to go to teach first aid in the Pacific again.
“The place was beautiful, and the people were just as beautiful. Word got around that we were on the rock, and everyone was waving and saying hi to us,” Margaret says.
“It would be amazing to take our knowledge to other islands because we saw how much the local Niuean community got out of it. Imparting essential first aid knowledge, knowing that it could save somebody’s life is just an incredible feeling.”
ENDS
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