Busy Yvonne (44), from Penclawdd, is one of a team of trained first aiders who help people to stay safe at public events all around Swansea and South Wales in the United Kingdom. She said: “When we’re on duty we deal with all kinds of enquiries, from grazes and stings in the summer to more serious medical emergencies, such as seizures and heart attacks. It’s just great to be a part of the team and I regularly update my training too so I’m gaining new skills all the time.”
Training
Besides volunteering at public events, Yvonne also trains members of the public in first aid. She continued: “You get a real buzz from passing on your knowledge and giving people the confidence to help someone, or even save a life. The best thing is persuading people who may lack confidence to have a go at something like resuscitation, then seeing the adrenaline and sense of achievement once they’ve done it. It’s amazing!”
Not content with these two roles, Yvonne also teaches life-saving skills to older pupils at her school. She explains: “It means that most of our pupils are able to save a life when they leave primary school. We also have a lot of fun while we learn, as I use games and props to keep them interested. We even use special paints to make up really realistic wounds!”
And when Gloucestershire was hit by severe flooding last summer, guess who was part of the flood relief team helping to distribute bottled water to those in need? Yvonne remembers: “The thing that struck me most was meeting the people who we helped. They were so glad to see us as their water had been cut off for days!” In just three weeks, Yvonne and Red Cross volunteer teams from across the UK distributed 330,000 litre bottles of water to more than 5,000 people in Gloucestershire.
Secret
When asked about how she manages to fit her volunteering role into her busy work and family life, Yvonne replied: “I’m very organized. The secret? I live my life by writing lists!”