Curtin Red Crescent voluntary aid detachment members learn critical skills at Miri Hospital

Miri – 3 May 2011 – 24 student volunteers of the Malaysian Red Crescent Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD 57) of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently made an educational visit to the Miri Hospital to learn more about first aid and handling emergency cases.

David Hii King Chuong, the hospital’s senior assistant medical officer, led the students on a tour of the Emergency and Trauma Department where he briefed them on the procedures in handling emergency cases, including the equipment used to sustain patients’ lives as well as the various types of drugs administered.

Hii stressed the importance of understanding the proper procedures in handling emergency cases as they can happen when we least expect it. “You might save a life simply by practising the correct procedures,” he remarked.

Apart from that, the students were briefed on the roles and responsibilities of each department at the hospital.

The visit was made all the more interesting when the students participated in ambulance training conducted by the hospital during which they learned how to handle and carry casualties into an ambulance. They were also taught how to use the equipment in a Type A ambulance which can be used to handle multiple emergency cases including childbirth.

The students commented that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves during the visit and acquired a better understanding of the procedures involved in handling emergency cases.

Among the activities planned by VAD 57 for its members in the coming months are a visit to the Miri Sunflower Centre as well as fire-fighting and basic first aid courses.

For more information on the Malaysian Red Crescent VAD 57, e-mail curtinrc@gmail.com or visit its website at curtinrc.blogspot.com. For information on Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at curtin.edu.my.

Students learning how to handle and carry casualties.

The students posing for a group photo with Senior Assistant Medical Officer David Hii King Chuong.

Anita Lim, the organising chairperson for the visit, presenting Hii a certificate of appreciation.