Grant Helps Increase Community Medical Resources

A local NGO and South Hill has a new community medical resource thanks to a one time federal program.

Moose Jaw Families For Change recently received $18,320.60 which they used for training two certified first aid trainers, supplies and medical equipment.

The funds came from the Federal Government’s one time $400 million Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund.

“Our agency was able to have to First Aid CPR Instructors trained (Mike Bachiu & Brooklyn Rice) which was done through the amazing team of Shelly Howe and April Rubbelke at the City of Moose Jaw Parks and Recreation Department, pay the trainer licensing fee, purchase First Aid/CPR training manuals, CPR mannequins, AED training machines, choking training vests, First Aid training supplies, and 5 AED (Automated External Defibrillator) devices with alarmed wall cabinets (one at the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre, one at the Kinsmen Cafe, and one in each of our group homes on South Hill - the Kinsmen HIP Home, the HEP Home, and the HOP Home),” Mike Bachiu program coordinator responded when asked what the grant purchased.

By certifying two in house trainers it allows the agency the opportunity to train first aid and CPR in house.

Additionally the AED is not just for use inside the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre or the Kinsmen Cafe - it is a community resource.

Asked with the proviso they are not expected to run three blocks to help would the agency make the machine available if it was needed nearby Bachiu responded yes.

“Absolutely, these devices are for community support in the area as well.”

“The AEDs are of course battery powered and are in easy to carry bags, complete with gloves, scissors, alcohol swabs, razors, and barrier devices to perform CPR with as little risk as possible.  In fact, the community access AEDs also have Naloxone packs with them as well in case a substance poisoning situation arose,” Bachiu said.

AEDs are medical devices designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal.

To support the vital work done by these organizations, the Government of Canada provided a one-time investment of $400 million to three National Funders – Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada, to support community service organizations as they recover from the pandemic.

The funding they received is greatly appreciated by Moose Jaw Families For Change.