Blood donation campaign

ERRC Newsletter - Volume 1 Issue 2

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps in

collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion

Service and the Arkadia Commercial Centre

organised a Blood Drive at Arkadia in Victoria.

The four hour Blood Drive started at 9:00am.

Forty-three people turned up to donate blood, the

majority being first time blood donors.

The ERRC would like to thank the management of

Arkadia Commerical Centre for providing its

premises to host the blood drive and the nursing

staff of the National Blood Transfusion Service for

their sterling service.

The Word of the President of E.R.R.C.

2012 is drawing to an end. It was a year which will be remembered in history for its leaps forward and for reminding us all once again that we can never be complacent. For the ERRC 2012 meant a quantum leap forward in all its operations and sectors – a year of absolute records. Records in obtaining for Gozo and Malta EU funding; record in the number and types of courses and training given to the general public, local councils, government entities, private companies, NGOs, etc; opportunities for our volunteers, cadets and members were never so abundant. Today more than ever before, more Gozitans and Maltese are trained in the 35 courses on offer by the ERRC, therefore, creating a better prepared society. As President I am very proud of what the ERRC and all its sections achieved in 2012 and will surely serve as the basis for another major quantum leap in 2013 and beyond. Complacency is inbuilt in our Gozitan and Maltese characters and unfortunately reflected in the way we do things even in matters endangering the lives of people. We must consistently battle against complacency and be prepared 24/7 as professionally as possible not just on week days. The Gharb tragedy has once again shuck the core of Gozitan society and has touched the very essence of what we as Gozitan and Maltese treasure – life itself. But if truly and re-ally we treasure the value of life we must seriously examine all from A to Z. The Gharb tragedy and the four victims is a small-scale tragedy compared what can happen if, God forbid we face a regional or national catastrophe which can happen at any time without notice. The fundamental question I ask, are we as a nation doing all we can to be prepared to the utmost to face come what may? And here comes the role of the ERRC in the national context. If such a catastrophe strikes our mainland Malta, the ERRC can be a reliable hand to assist in this situation knowing that all hands and expertise will be needed, not just for events in Gozo and Comino. ERRC insists that Gozo urgently needs a Regional Emergency Rapid Response Centre. Our nation needs to muster all such emergency resources and continue to be prepared to the fullest towards that unfortunate day, that whether or not we want, it is like to come. Holy Christmas and the best for 2013 to all our chain of command, instructors, volunteers, cadets, members, partners and sponsors locally and abroad and to the Hon Giovanna Debono and the Hon Dr Chris Said for all their value assistance throughout the year.

25 new lifeguards complete their training with ERRC


25 new lifeguards have recently completed an

intensive five-month course organised by the

Emergency Response Rescue Corps of Gozo.

Certificates were presented to the new lifeguards

by the Minister for Gozo, the Hon. Giovanna

Debono.

Through the summer months the ERRC concentrate their operations around Ramla Bay in

Gozo, as well as the Blue Lagoon in Comino.

The service that the ERRC provides is in

collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority,

Ministry for Gozo – Eco-Gozo. Support is also

being provided by Transport Malta, Civil

protection Department and the Gaia Foundation.

Zip line activiites

Recently; ERRC has undertaken a series of Zip line

activities aimed at Students participating at Skola

Sajf. This activity was supported by the Council of

Voluntary Sector in Malta.

White Waters’ – Water Rescue Training in Wales and Italy



The project was funded by an

European Union Life long learning

program Leonardo Da Vinci

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps was

the promoter and coordinator of a Leonardo Da

Vinci Mobility VETPRO European Project named

“White Waters”. The project took place in the

UK and Italy. Local partners involved in this

project include the Civil Protection Department,

whereas Rescue 3 UK and National Life Saving Society – Rome EUR Branch was responsible to

host our beneficiaries while abroad.

This project exposed a group of volunteers from

the ERRC and members of the Civil Protection

Department to specialised training in urban flood-

ing rescue techniques, rescue of people from

flooded vehicles and use of specialised watercrafts

during rescues.

This training will be beneficial locally because in

Malta and Gozo suffer from the flash flood

phenomenon . This occurs during heavy rainfall

and some roads turn into rivers. Volunteers tak-ing part in the project have undergone a series of

preparatory training sessions before they attend

to training abroad.

ERRC attends an International Search and Rescue Conference


The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps participated and attended for "Rescue 2012" – an International Search and Rescue conference, hosted by the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Over 600 delegates from different countries attended the conference. Mr Etienne Micallef attended the event on behalf of the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps. ERRC established very good contacts with some other member organizations. In fact a se-ries of MOUs will be done in the areas of search and rescue.

The attendance for this conference was funded by the European Union Program Grundtvig Visits and Exchanges Action.

Training to the general public

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps

recently provided a series of health and safety

related courses for industry. Course deliverd

included SCBA for industry use, working safety

at theihgts and introduction to health and safety.

ERRC is a leading traing provider, providing over

30 certified courses.

To the rescue


ERRC Lifeguards Donate

Lifeguards from the Emergency Response and Rescue

Corps organised a Blood Drive at the Blood

Donation Department at the Gozo General Hospital

on the 20th October 2012. The activity drew thirty

people to donate blood, eight of whom were first

time donors.

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps urges

the general public to donate blood. Blood donation

saves lives.

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps provided first aid and ambulance service cover-age during the Puttinu Cares fund raising event 'Pass Pass ma' Puttinu, miċ-Ċirkewwa saż-Żejtun'.

Puttinu Cares is a Childrens's Cancer Support Group. The event consisted in a walk from Ċirkewwa to Żejtun to raise funds to support Children with cancer.

Tuesday 6th November volunteers were called by

the Civil Protection Department to offer

assistance during the fireworks factory accident in

Gharb. For this accident, an ambulance and two

rescue vehicles were deployed. Rescuers used

ERRC's portable lighting equipment including a

generator during the search for the victims. ERRC

volunteers gave psychological support to relatives

of the victims who were present onsite.

Pass Pass ma Puttinu

This accident claimed the lives of four persons.


extends it condolences to all relatives of the

victims during these difficult moments.

E.R.R.C. Cadets Summer Camp 2012



(E.R.R.C.) Cadets have attended their annual

Summer Camp from the 6th till the 12th

of August. A number of activities were carried

out, where the cadets had the chance to

practice the first aid and survival skills

they continuously learn during meetings held during the year.

Simulations, cooking meals themselves and

building a survival shelter are only a few of the

activities carried out. Of course, apart from these educational activities, other games and

challenges included an obstacle race, abseiling

and rock climbing, task hunts, building a raft

and so on.

The Cadets in the E.R.R.C. are a group of

youngsters between the ages of 6 and 15 who

meet together to enhance social skills as well

as educational skills, which they can easily use

in their futures. Teamwork, socialisation and

great fun were the three main aims during this

camp; and were successfully induced. A well

done goes to all cadets and a big thank you to

all E.R.R.C. volunteers who helped throughout

the camp.

ERRC offering Ambulance service during a UEFA Tournament


offered First Aid and Ambulance service during

Intermediary Round of the the UEFA Regions

Cup. This four teams; Gozo, ATF Ialoveni of

Moldova, Rinuži/Strong of Latvia and FC Olimp

Moscow of Russia, held at the Gozo Stadium.

The tournament started on Sunday 14 October

and ended 18th October 2012.

Fix n Ride Cycling Safety for Children


ERRC is the organiser of Fix n Ride Cycling Safety for children, a Youth in Action Project (Youth

Initiatives European Union funded Project), aimed to increase awareness about safe cycling skills and road

safety.

The project integrated disabled persons and young people having fewer opportunities in normal sports

activity while promote healthy living and education through sports.

A series of events are being organized by the ERRC. These include safe cycling campaigns, bike safety

festivals and the production of a kids bike safety manual..

Lifeguarding

ERRC Newsletter - Volume 1 Issue 3 Page

This summer the E.R.R.C. lifeguards catered for 1223 cases, which ranged from jellyfish stings, minor

wounds, sunstroke, fractures, lost children, spinal injuries which required helicopter evacuation to Mater

Dei Hospital. ERRC liofeguards were stationed at Blue lagoon and Ramla Bay Gozo.

Eric Bonello equipped for working at heights

course

Photo diary


Snap shot of our trauma manikin during the

AFM open day

Raising children awareness off CPR

star of life volune 1issue 3

Documents

blood page

rescue page

public page

children page

lifeguarding page

blood donation compaign

new lifeguards page

photo diary page