As part of its First Aid training program, run in partnership with the Volunteer Crisis Rescue Team (VCRT) and currently in its sixth year, BLUE STAR FERRIES organised a two-day “First Aid” and “Natural Disaster handling” seminar on 22nd & 23rd October 2019 at the Indoor Basketball Court of Symi, which was attended by 71 people.
The BLUE STAR FERRIES First Aid training program began in 2014, has been run on the islands of Tilos, Amorgos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos and for 2019, after Leros, the program was completed in the island of Symi. More than 670 people have attended the seminars totally. The program is part of Attica Group’s wider Responsibility Program, “With You as our Destination”.
Beyond the transfer of valuable first aid skills, an equally important objective of the seminars is to encourage volunteerism and cultivate a feeling of solidarity with our fellow human beings.
We are especially pleased that the Amorgos VCRT was created in April 2015 as a direct result of the program. It has since performed important rescue work and is now an integral part of the island’s civil protection. This shows that the success of the program, is not limited only to the teaching of first aid, but also extends to the organisation and participation of the local community in resolving key problems such as health.
First aid is the immediate care provided to the victim of an accident or someone who suddenly falls ill until they can be taken to hospital. The goal is to preserve life, prevent the patient’s condition from worsening, relieve pain and assist recovery. It is crucial to remain calm when providing first aid. First aid draws on the desire to be useful to other people. It is not an obligation but it can save a life.
VCRT is a non-governmental civil protection group founded in 2008 by volunteer rescue workers, which today comprises 70 volunteers of all ages. It provides active assistance during emergencies and healthcare at events attended by large numbers of people, such as conferences, concerts and sporting events.
Attica Group is engaged in passenger shipping through SUPERFAST FERRIES, BLUE STAR FERRIES, HELLENIC SEAWAYS and AFRICA MOROCCO LINK, operating 31 vessels providing modern, high quality transportation services in Greece and abroad. Attica’s vessels serve 60 unique destinations in 4 countries, connecting 71 ports and carrying over 7 million passengers, 1 million passenger vehicles and 400,000 trucks every year.
Kallithea, December 2, 2019