After 75 years in Simcoe County and 135 years in Canada, St. John Ambulance has a lot to celebrate in 2018.
On Tuesday, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury proclaimed the week of June 18-24 as St. John Ambulance Week and raised the flag of the volunteer organization at the Bradford courthouse.
Claire Campbell, a volunteer with the organization for 23 years, said St. John Ambulance is affiliated with “one of the oldest charitable organizations in the world.”
She described the range of volunteer services provided – not only the medical first responders, who provide first aid at public events, but the car seat safety unit, youth program, and therapy dog program.
“Therapy dog units have become the staple of places like hospitals, nursing homes and schools,” and they have recently been introduced to the court system to provide comfort to those facing the stress of an appearance in court, Campbell said.
The Barrie Simcoe Muskoka branch has two medical first responder units, two therapy dog units, a car seat unit, and a youth unit, operating in a large area that stretches from Highway 9 to North Bay.
Last year, the branch provided 19,366 hours of volunteer service, attended 181 events, treated 154 people, provided CPR and automated external defibrillator training for 320 residents, and brought therapy dogs to more than 3,440 clients.
“There’s no cost. A donation is always greatly appreciated, but there’s no cost” for the services provided, said St. John branch manager Cathy Banting.
In addition to donations, St. John Ambulance is always looking for new volunteers.
