Volunteers and staff from St John Ambulance Guernsey are preparing for a busy week of activities in the island.

Over the bank holiday weekend volunteer first aiders will be on duty at various community and sporting events including the horse racing at L’Ancresse, Literary Festival, Autocross and Twisty Sprint. St John will also be providing first aid cover in St Peter Port during Liberation Day on Thursday and the Specsavers Tea Dance.

In total thirty four volunteers will be covering duties in the next seven days. St John first aiders will also be working alongside staff from the emergency ambulance service at some of the events.

Chief Operating Officer Nikki Harrison said “Traditionally the first week in May is our busiest week of the year. We are very lucky to have a great team of dedicated members who give up their free time to provide first aid cover, without which many of these events would not be able to run. I’d like to thank all of our volunteers who will be on duty this week.”

On Liberation Day teams will be on duty from 8am until late to help anyone who needs care. The St John Cycle Response Unit (CRU) sponsored by G4S will be deployed on the St Peter Port seafront. The trained CRU members are able to negotiate busy crowds on their specially adapted bikes, allowing a rapid and flexible initial response to medical emergencies. As well as adult first aiders, some members of the Cadets will also be on duty on the day.

The main first aid post will be in the bus layby near the Albert Memorial/Picquet House, this will accommodate a treatment area and rest area for members of the public. St John will also have ambulance vehicles strategically placed in other locations around town.

The St John Emergency Ambulance Service will continue to provide an island-wide emergency response on Liberation Day as it does every day of the year. Extra staff will also be on duty with contingency measures in place to call in extra staff if required. Rapid Response Vehicles and emergency ambulances will be deployed to stand-by positions as required.  

Meanwhile representatives of St John Guernsey and the Emergency Ambulance Service will take part in the Liberation Day Church Parade on the seafront and service at the Town Church during the morning.