One trainer: Two lives saved

ON CALL: Glen Downs is stoked that his small trust has ultimately helped save lives. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

A Rotorua first aid trainer is ecstatic that his graduates have saved lives.

Rotorua Aquatic Centre lifeguards and VTNZ Fenton Park station supervisor Nagesh Nair were both trained by the Lakes Medical Services Trust, a charitable trust set up to help transfer palliative care patients.

Earlier this month a man experienced a seizure while in the Aquatic Centre learners' pool and last month truck driver Max Burgess' heart stopped in the VTNZ car park, where Mr Nair performed CPR.

The trust is a registered charitable trust that has grown from a small private event based ambulance service.

It offers event medical cover, first aid training and private transfers.

Operations manager and senior instructor Glen Downs said he was stoked to learn that two people had their lives saved as a result of their training.

"First aid is generally something people don't want to have to do, they avoid it," he said.

"Human beings like to do something because they understand it. We teach using the NZQA first aid but we do things in the areas that are more practical to them, such as spinal injuries and drowning for the lifeguards.

"It's great to know that we were a part of the lifesaving without being there. I'm proud of them; they've had the confidence to use it.

"Because of them there are two special people who have gone back to their families."

He said the proceeds from the first aid training helped run the ambulance, which came about after personal experience.

"Our daughter is severely disabled and we know what it's like to be stuck somewhere. We're not in competition with St John, it's a service that fills a gap."

Mr Downs is a former St John ambulance officer and is two papers from finishing his paramedics degree.

"I've been a patient, parent of a severe patient and a paramedic. My passion is to fill a need. There's something special in being able to work with the elderly or hold the hand of a palliative patient offering empathy."

Mr Downs said the trust was looking for more volunteers to help transfer patients and to attend events as first aiders.

For more information go to www.lmst.org.nz.

What they can do:
Private transfer in fully equipped ambulance.
Hospital to hospital
Home to hospital (non-emergency)
Rest home to hospital or appointments
Disability transport for stretcher-based patients
NZQA First Aid training

What they can't do:
Emergency callouts