Samoa Red Cross has continued its second week of training with another group of participants from Samoa Government Ministries. 

The training was held at Samoa Red Cross in Tuanaimato recently, and was facilitated by the Red Cross health coordinator and full-time Pacific first aid instructor, Aiolupotea Goretti Wulf.

With more than 15 years nursing experience, she has dedicated her career to helping the nation and the Pacific. 

Speaking to Samoa Observer, she emphasised the importance of the first aid program for everyone, not just staff of Government Ministries.

“It is a must for people to be trained for first aid, not only for work but also for home,” she said.

Aiolupotea said the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor is the custodian of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and has been enforcing it for over 17 years.

“Training has been in the community for a long time but this is the first time Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor (M.C.I.L) have stepped in to help fund for the first aid training for the other Government departments.”

She also said demand for first aid training is high and the Occupational Task Force is assisting staff to do the work more effectively, especially now that Government officials have set an example for the nation to follow.

According to the health coordinator, the first aid course is a three-day training to learn fundamental skills like C.P.R. — a certificate is issued upon the completion of training. The M.C.I.L is funding the production of first aid certificates, which will be awarded to the course participants and it will be valid for two years. 

She said should participants wish to renew their certificates, they will have to undergo mandatory training in order to upgrade—based on changes to the program recommended by the International CPR and First Aid Councils. 

Community training programs are free and participants will not receive certificates.

“People are productive in the programs and they are eager to learn and be able to save lives,” she added.