St. John Ambulance Canada

St. John Ambulance Canada Ambulance Saint-Jean Canada
St. John Ambulance Canada logo. The red maple leaf surrounding the traditional roundel is seen only on the Canadian version of the logo.
Abbreviation	SJAC
Formation	1882
Type	Organizations based in Canada with royal patronage
Legal status	active
Purpose/focus	advocate and public voice, educator and network
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Region served	Canada
Membership	25,000 members in more than 300 communities
Official languages	English, French
Affiliations	Atlantic Paramedic Academy
Website	http://www.sja.ca/ www.sja.ca/

St. John Ambulance Canada, or SJAC (French: Ambulance Saint-Jean Canada (ASJC)) is the Canadian chapter of St. John Ambulance (SJA), a worldwide non-profit first aid training organization. The mission of St. John Ambulance Canada is to enable Canadians to improve their health, safety, and quality of life through training and community service. SJAC has more than 25,000 members in communities across Canada.

History

St. John Ambulance was founded in Canada in 1882. Under this banner, volunteers from coast-to-coast carry out the humanitarian services of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

In 1897 the Dominion Council of Canada was established in Ottawa to give legitimacy to the operations of St John Ambulance Brigade in Canada. At the same time St. John Ambulance Brigade activities commenced in the territories of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

In 1993, the Dominion Council of Canada became the Commandery of Canada due its increasing activity and social need for first aid services and training.

In 1946, the Priory of Canada of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem was established. This was done in recognition of two needs:

• (a) the expanding role and activities of the St. John Ambulance Association and the St. John Ambulance Brigade throughout Canada, and
• (b) the need to transfer the governance of the Order to the national capital, Ottawa, and away from being under the governance of the Priory of England and the Islands.

St. John Ambulance Canada plaque at Royal Military College of Canada

In 2008, St. John Ambulance Canada celebrated its 125 anniversary. A plaque commemorates the 125th anniversary of the completion of the inaugural St. John Ambulance Canada first aid course conducted at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario for the benefit of gentlemen Cadets and Staff in 1883-4 and initiated a close and continuous association that has been forged in both peace and war, between St. John Ambulance and the Canadian Forces. St. John Council for Ontario plaque 6 June 2009

Training

Led by a highly skilled network of medical and health care professionals, SJAC is a national leader in first aid, working with other organizations in setting the standards for training in first aid, CPR and other life-saving skills. SJAC also offers many advanced level courses including the Medical first responder (MFR) in several provinces. As well St. John also operates 2 colleges of Paramedicine; the Atlantic Paramedic Academy in New Brunswick and the Maritime School of Paramedicine in Nova Scotia. St. John Ambulance also offers courses in pet first aid to the community.

Medical First Response Services

The Medical First Response Services were formerly known as St. John Ambulance Brigade and are often still referred to as such, both within the organization and by others. Each MFRS unit are a group of trained volunteers that serve within their community in a variety of ways. Services include first aid services at public events, Medical Services support in times of emergency or disaster, and youth programs that encourage community service and personal development.

SJAC provides patient care and first responder services at public events throughout Canada with their Volunteer Community Services, much in the same way as in England. Members in Canada wear a similar uniform, and are trained to the new Medical First Responder (MFR) program. In Nova Scotia, the volunteers no longer use the term "Brigade" or "Ambulance". They are now referred to as "St John Volunteer Medical Response". This change came about in an attempt to better reflect what the volunteers can offer to their communities.

Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and British Columbia are the only provinces that still wear their full uniform: a pair of black tac pants, a button up black shirt with crests on both sleeves, with 'Medical First Responder' reflective on the back for MFR members. Accompanying a fully MFR trained member may be a Member that are in the process of obtaining their full MFR qualification. Members-in-training wear a white shirt with crests on both sleeves, a black wool sweater (optional), a black tie for formal events, a SJA hat or beret (optional), and a pair of black boots.

Therapy Dog

The SJA Therapy Dog Program began in Peterborough, Ontario and has expanded across the country. Partnerships have been established in hospitals, palliative care units, day care centres, senior residences, rest homes, special needs schools and psychiatric hospitals where people are often restricted from having pets. The Therapy Dog program sees a volunteer and their dog make visits to an institution, often on a weekly basis.

We Can Help

SJAC provides elementary school students with the We Can Help Program, which provides children with an introduction to first aid skills and basic injury prevention messages, is designed for children ages seven through ten. Children today are often given a great deal of responsibility, and the intention of this program is to ensure that their knowledge of safety is as strong as possible.

Friends of the Emergency Room

The Friends of the Emergency Room program volunteers provide comfort and support services to people who access the emergency department at some hospitals in Alberta.

The Friends are an important part of the emergency room care team. Friends are there to provide patients and their companions with comfort and support while in the waiting room.

Youth Programs

Youth in SJAC are a very important part of the organization as well. The proficiency program allows youth members to gain the Grand Prior's award, as well as work toward the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Proficiencies are awarded for such demonstration of knowledge of subjects, both related and unrelated to the organization. The program is designed to meet the requirements of the Grand Prior's Award, and to give the youth valuable life skills. The Grand Prior's Award is achieved when the adolescent has completed 6 compulsory and 6 elective proficiency courses. In addition to this, youth members are given the opportunity to perform community service at public events, provided that they are supervised by trained adult members.

Disaster Planning and Aid

In times of emergency, SJAC can be placed on standby, waiting to provide Disaster Relief and Emergency services to the effected area. Exactly what procedures are taken greatly depends on local Disaster Management planners, however the government of Canada has officially recognised the role SJAC fills in the process.[1] Supplies and equipment may vary as well as numbers of personnel immediately available in the area, but SJAC does have a plan already in place, in the form of the National Duty Officer, for the callup of additional personnel and equipment to augment local Units.[2]

See also

• St John Ambulance Ranks and Insignia
• Goodwin House - Former National Office Building
• Service Medal of the Order of St John
• Insignia of the Venerable Order of St John

External links

• St. John Ambulance Canada
• St. John Ambulance Canada 125 Anniversary site
• Maritime School of Paramedicine