In times of crisis, even the most basic first aid knowledge could save a life. Thus, NTU Red Cross Youth Chapter (RCY) joined forces with the Welfare Service Club Deaf Community (WSC DC) to host a workshop for members of the Deaf community in September 2019.
Unlike previous first aid workshops for NTU students, activities were specially curated for its participants. NTU RCY members imparted their knowledge while WSC DC volunteers worked as sign language interpreters for both instructors and participants.
Participants learnt application skills including handing of common injuries such as bee stings and bandaging techniques. Volunteers also shared how to report emergencies as they found that a number of participants did not know the right emergency contact numbers nor that SMS reports could be done in place of calls.
The participants left the workshop with positive feedback, with participants asking to learn more about first aid beyond the material in the course. NTU RCY hopes to conduct more of such workshops and views these opportunities as baby steps towards creating a more inclusive society.
Through this short workshop, I witnessed the eagerness of the participants to learn, through the many questions they fielded during the session. By volunteering for such a cause, I was given an opportunity to add value to their lives, which I found to be very worthwhile. Gilbert Tan, WSC DC Volunteer
About Red Cross Youth NTU Chapter
The NTU Chapter of the Singapore Red Cross Society attached to the Voluntary Aid Detachments Division was set up in July 1994.
The objectives of the Chapter are: To encourage and promote the participation of students and staff of NTU in the work of Red Cross; to furnish voluntary aid to the sick and suffering, and all those who require health education, first aid, nursing and welfare services in the University, and to provide voluntary support in such areas in University activities; to organize training and classes on subjects like first aid, CPR and others that fall within the objectives of the Society; to provide voluntary support to the Society in its various activities.
About NTU Welfare Services Club
Founded in 1985, Welfare Services Club (WSC) is a non-academic constituent club in NTU which provides an umbrella of voluntary activities and social work to all students. Besides growing from strength to strength in membership, WSC has also undergone incredible expansions in its activities to reach out to more service users every year. Currently, it runs 9 Regular Service Projects (RSPs) serving the Deaf, Elderly, Children of Low-income Families, Children with Chronic or Terminal Diseases, Intellectually Disabled, People with Mental Health Issues, Physically Challenged, Visually Handicapped and Youths-at-risk, which comprises volunteers engaging these service users weekly at various locations.
WSC also runs 5 Special Projects and 4 Supporting Committees. The Special Projects include Camp OutReach, Challenge ur Limits, Ignite Change, Overseas Volunteering Expedition and Volunteer Management and they provide additional support to service users both locally and overseas. The Supporting Committees include Finance, Growth & Opportunities!, Internal Relations and Publicity and Publications and they provide operational support to WSC. Volunteers engaged in Special Projects and Supporting Committees gain invaluable skills in entrepreneurship, events management, planning, coordination and many more.