The Cochrane and Area Health Foundation (CAHF) has stepped up to support free child and infant health workshops offered to families by Cochrane Emergency Training Services (CETS).
Starting in May, the foundation will sponsor six monthly two-hour workshops.
"Every month, we do a free two-hour workshop focused on children and infants," said Alex and Chelsea Mann of CETS. "It covers CPR, choking and a range of common day-to-day emergencies. It’s really geared toward parents, grandparents and older siblings."
They believe the more people trained, the better.
"Bystander lay-rescuer CPR is often the difference between a good outcome and a bad one," said Alex. "The more people in this community trained, the better — and this donation helps a lot."
Chelsea said they’ve been offering the free monthly course for the last two years. Each workshop can accommodate up to 12 participants, and they’re thrilled to see them consistently fill up.
"Knowing it’s accessible and that there aren’t financial barriers standing in the way of people gaining this kind of education means the world to us," she said.
She added they’ve been fortunate to receive sponsorship from other businesses and organizations in the past and continue to welcome more support. When sponsorship hasn't been available, they’ve covered the cost themselves.
More information about CETS is available here.
CAHF chair Brian Winter said the foundation is pleased to provide financial support for a program that aligns with its mandate to improve the quality, provision and access to healthcare for residents of Cochrane and the surrounding area.
To support the foundation’s mission, tax-deductible donations can be made through its website here. That same page also provides information for those seeking funding.