Training on life-saving

On the morning of a beautiful autumn day, we set out to meet a team of Caritas Alba Iulia volunteers and learn one of the most heroic ways of helping, namely life-saving in the form of first aid. This get-together lasted two days, from 8 a.m. on Saturday until 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Once we arrived and the team gathered, we started to set the place up in order to provide optimal circumstances for our time spent there. Afterwards we completed registration and settled in. Once everybody occupied their rooms, we could start the activities. The volunteer coordinators have prepared a bunch of interesting games to help us get to know each other better, which made everybody truly enthusiastic. We have tried a lot of energizing and ice-breaking games together.

After we have got to know each other better, the block consisting of the theoretical basics of the training could begin. The skillful coordinator, our expert in first aid was Bernadett Török, a colleague of Caritas Alba Iulia. Thanks to Betti, we managed to get a glimpse of the very beginning of life-saving, consisting of: the correct order of aiding, ensuring the location, establishing contact, assessing the situation (what if the injured has a reaction? what if they don’t?), what should I do in case I see a traffic accident or a car crash? She presented these situations both in theory and practice, also giving us group tasks in order to try out the newly acquired knowledge, which proved to be utterly useful for everyone. We have learned to correctly provide for and bandage an open wound, as well as to perform basic life support. In the evening, when we were done practicing and exercising, we thanked Betti for the rich and literally life-saving lessons she taught us, and we were ready for the well-deserved evening activities.

The next morning we were woken up as early as 7 a.m. Following a hearty breakfast and coffee, we started fulfilling tasks and playing games. We started with a game in which we had to find solutions for several interesting situations in groups. At noon we had trust games and team building games, which served to everyone’s delight, because knowing how to be a team-player was indispensable. After the games were over, it was time for the feedbacks: everyone had to conclude what they’ve learned during the training, as well as to say what was new to them and what else they would like to learn regarded to first aid.

Afterwards, we had the opportunity to playfully give feedbacks to each other, as well. This happened in the form of a blank sheet of paper put on everyone’s back, where we could write a short message for anyone we wanted. This event ended with a delightful dinner, followed by tidying up, packing and travelling home.

We thank the organizers, the volunteer coordinators for making these incredibly useful two days happen. I have known for a while now that I want to study and pursue a career in healthcare, possibly as an emergency helper or nurse, and these two days have only consolidated this resolution in me.

Györfi Emese, volunteer in Gheorgheni

(translated by Razman Noémi-Katalin)