They're ready to aid the sick at public events

But if the need does arise, St. John Ambulance volunteers are well prepared.

Last year alone, the group of volunteers donated more than 30,000 hours,providing first aid services at nearly 350 events around Manitoba.

Fraser Fisher, 51, has been a volunteer with the non-profit agency for the past 21 years. In addition to volunteering at community events such as Festival du Voyageur, Boo at the Zoo, and concert hall events, he also serves as the divisional training officer, spending one night each week training new volunteers for the agency.

"The goal is to not do first aid, but if something happens, that's why we're there," said Fisher, a CN employee and father of three. "We're there to help anybody, no matter what it is, whether it's medical or trauma."

Volunteers treat a wide range of injuries and traumas, anything from bruised fingers to heart attack victims. That's one of the reasons Jasmine Sutton enjoys volunteering with the agency so much. The ambitious 15-year-old has been a St. John Ambulance volunteer for four years and is hoping that the skills she learns will help her in the future. Part of the youth division, she also provides service at community events, working with adult volunteers, in addition to taking part in the agency's leadership program.

"I want to be a paramedic one day and my mom suggested it would be a good stepping stone, so I went for it," said Sutton, who will start Grade 10 in September.

Volunteer experience looks good on a resumé, Sutton pointed out.

"I've learned how to take pulse. I've learned how to communicate with other people. I've learned how to make sure and be able to check for warning signs of heart attacks, strokes and choking," Sutton said.

Fellow volunteer Husan Pirzada, a pre-medicine student, agrees that the opportunity is perfect for those looking for experience for future careers. So much so, that Pirzada is in the midst of starting a St. John Ambulance program on site at the University of Manitoba. He thinks that by making it more convenient for students to take part in training and meetings, more will come out to volunteer.

"There are so many who would be interested in this, and maybe they just don't know about it, or maybe they're busy and it's hard to leave university and come to meetings because of studying.

St. John Ambulance is in the midst of a recruitment drive for a number of volunteer opportunities, including as advanced medical first responders and as training leaders for the youth division.

Volunteers and therapy dogs are also required for See Spot Read, a program run in partnership with the Winnipeg Humane Society. Those willing to help with administration and computer tasks are also required.

For more information, or to become a St. John Ambulance volunteer, please call Christine Kaskiw at 784-7016 or visit the agency online at www.sja.ca.

If you know a special volunteer who strives to make their community a better place to live, please contact Erin Madden at erinmadden@shaw.ca

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities advertised in the Winnipeg area. For more information about these listings, please contact the person/organization directly. You may also call (204) 477-5180 ext. 221 to set up an appointment to see an interviewer at Volunteer Manitoba. Email: vmreferral@mts.net or visit our website: www.volunteermanitoba.ca for other available volunteer opportunities.

Cuba Va! Pavilion is looking for volunteers who can help Aug. 9 to 15. Multiple shifts for the kitchen, food service and the cash register. Call 982-6213 or santinit@folklorama.ca

YMCA-YWCA Winipeg West Portage branch is accepting applications for the volunteer position of swimming instructor assistant to help the swim instructor in child care, swimming and evaluation. Call Aric, 889-8052.

Osborne Village Resource Centre is looking for a resource person who has experience researching on the Internet to search websites for job opportunities, print the postings and place these into binders. Call Patti, 989-6503 or patmal@wtc.mb.ca

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is looking for a Pan Am Clinic volunteer ambassador to provide information, directions and helpful assistance to the patients and their friends and families accessing Pan Am Clinic. Four hours per week. Call: Suzie, 787-7247 or smatenchuk@hsc.mb.ca

Poseidon Care Centre, 70 Poseidon Bay, needs volunteers for the following positions: to play cards with residents, assist with a weekly summer walk, and assist with evening programming. Call Mike, 992-9462 or mike.crosby@reveraliving.com

Ronald McDonald House is looking for volunteer house assistants to help with various duties around the house (tidying, cleaning, administrative work) during the day. Also evening managers who will interact with families, answer phones and intercom, check in arrivals, provide tours and ensure families are made welcome and comfortable. Call: Kerry, 774-4777or kerry@rmh.mb.c.

Spence Neighbourhood Association is seeking volunteers to help supervise children ages 6 to 12 in the Building Belonging program, and to assist with cooking, games, sports, arts and crafts, weekly outings and special events. Two hours per week. Call: Ronna, 783-0290 or volunteer@spenceneighbourhood.org

N.E.E.D.S Inc. is looking for volunteer youth mentors for its Youth Reaching Out to Youth program that aims to provide newcomer youth with mentors as soon as they arrive in Winnipeg. The youth mentors will spend three to five hours per week with their "mentee" (hours are flexible). Mentors will also attend training sessions. Mentors will help teach their mentee the life skills they'll need to successfully settle and integrate into Canadian society. This will be done through workshops, recreational and educational activities and outings. Call: Heather, 940-1260 or heather@needsinc.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 20, 2009 B2