WEST DISTRICT CHAMP FOR NFAC'09


Throughout weeks of trainings for the preparation of the Red Cross National First Aid Competition 2009 held in Compassvale Secondary School on 7th November 2009, our Hua Yi NFAC team had been practicing very hard, hoping to clinch a West District Champion for the competition. This year’s National First Aid Competition was different from the previous years. This year, the competition was in the form of a telematch, which included 3 checkpoints, namely obstacle crossing (over obstacle in our evacuation gold syllabus) as well as bandaging skills and theory paper for the preliminary rounds, and 7 checkpoints for the final rounds, namely obstacle crossing (over and under obstacle), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bandaging, wheelchair drills, theory paper and improvised stretcher (in our evacuation syllabus).

During the long hours of trainings for the National First Aid Competition, everyone put in their best effort. Though knowing that the trainings were long and tedious, there were minimal complaints from the participants like why there were so many trainings and when they could rest. Lynn, Li Min, Kwan Wai and Jun Xiong were the first aiders assigned to the obstacle crossing in the competition itself. Even though some of the first aiders did not have much knowledge on the evacuation gold syllabus at first but as time went by and everyone learnt together, all of them had grasp hold of the knowledge and every single one of them was very clear of their roles after a few trainings. Although most of the times after practices of obstacle crossing, the team developed muscle aches and injuries such as bruises, the team still continued to endure and carried on.

Kah Nyin was the casualty throughout the trainings when the team practiced for the obstacle crossing and as they practiced, Kah Nyin had also help the team in many ways by reminding the team of what they had missed out and mistakes made. He had also been a great help to the first aiders during the training. As for the component on bandaging, Jia Min and our Youth Officer, Ms Lee, coordinated together well and practiced their bandaging skills with scenarios given by our very own secondary three cadets from our unit. Jia Min, being experienced in bandaging skills, assisted Ms Lee during the trainings while Ms Lee captured the knowledge very quickly. Those secondary three cadets not only helped out by coming up with scenarios for the first aiders in the component of bandaging but they also helped the team in the obstacle crossing— spot mistakes made as well as assist the team when there was a lack of manpower. Our reserve first aider, Chek Jun, had also trained very hard for the competition. Realizing that she could be of great help during the final rounds of the First Aid Competition, she read up her standard first aid syllabus, hoping that she could provide help during the final round.

Due to all these efforts that the NFAC team had put in as well as the help from our secondary three cadets, we grew in confidence as the competition drew near. During the competition, everyone recalled what they had always practiced and put into action. As we were competing against the other five schools, Ms Lee was the first to run back to the start point, also our end point, and our school had gotten hold of the 30 marks for the speed section, marking the fastest team in that round! Finally, as all the schools had finished competing and as the results for the competition had been calculated and collated by the judges, the final results was out. Then, the atmosphere was getting tense after the 2nd runner up and 1st runner up of the West District was being announced. “Hua Yi Secondary School Red Cross Youth has emerged as the West District Champion of the National First Aid Competition 2009!” the emcee announced.

We hereby congratulate the team for clinching West District Champion for the competition. You have done the unit proud. Let Hua Yi’s Red Cross unit continue to stand out throughout the years. We, can certainly do it!

Write-up by: WO Khoo Li Min