This
exercise at St Martin's College, meant as a pilot project, aims to
increase awareness about the importance of first aid. It will also be
used by the MRC to push for the introduction of Basic Life Skills (BLS)
in the PSHE programme in all local schools. A video of the event will
be used in the European Resuscitation Council's Annual symposium which
will be held at the MCC in Valletta in mid-October. This will allow
the MRC to demonstrate to professionals in the medical sphere, how Basic
Life Skills could be practically taught to students. St
Martin's College is the first school in Malta to have an Automated
External Defibrillator (AED). This has been installed very prominently
in the school reception area. This machine enables specially trained
school staff to administer controlled electric shocks to people
suffering from cardiac arrest. AEDs are totally automatic and will not
deliver this shock if it is not needed. The acquisition of this machine
was made possible through the donation from the St. Martin's College
Parents' Circle.
At
the end of the previous scholastic year, St Martin's College was awarded
the Hasscom (H&S School Certification of Merit) Intermediate level
certificate by the Health and Safety Unit of the Department of
Educational Services. This is in recognition of the fact that the
College has reached a very commendable level in health and safety issues
within its environment. The award is designed to help school officials
improve the profile of good health and safety practice in schools by
rewarding their successful track record. The criteria used to award
this certificate are based on hygiene, the availability and upkeep of
firefighting equipment and signage, the carrying out and recording of
evacuation drills, the availability and upkeep of first aid boxes within
the school, as well as the continuous upkeep of the school's premises
through regular risk assessments.
