Islanders benefit from Red Cross programs and services in injury prevention, health promotion, humanitarian action and disaster response. The Government is pleased to announce a $175,000 contribution to the Canadian Red Cross in Prince Edward Island to help assist them in providing a number of valuable services, some of which are unique to the Island, says Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram.
“The Red Cross is an extremely vital part of our community, whether it is by aiding victims of local disasters such as house fires, by providing life-saving training in CPR, or by teaching our young people important water safety skills, the Red Cross provides an invaluable service for our One Island Community,” said Minister Bertram.
“We are thrilled to be continuing this important partnership with the Province of Prince Edward Island. The Canadian Red Cross has a long and proud history of delivering vital community service to Islanders and, with the continuing support of the Province, we will reach many more Islanders this year with programs like free loans of health care equipment, house fire response and school programs that prevent violence and bullying,” says Louise Castonguay, Regional Director for the Canadian Red Cross in Prince Edward Island.
A portion of this contribution will support day camps that teach swimming and water safety to Island children. The Red Cross Swim program nationally traces its roots to the Prince Edward Island camps, which over the last 63 years have trained tens of thousands of Island children and youth and helped reduce the provincial rates of drowning and water-related injuries from the highest to among the lowest in the country.
Each year, the Red Cross in Prince Edward Island assists dozens impacted by disasters and trains more than 4,000 Islanders in first aid, CPR, or swimming and water safety. People receiving such training are better prepared to assist others in emergencies and are less likely to be injured themselves. The Red Cross also provides over 400 free loans of health mobility aids each year, and in 2009 delivered bullying and harassment prevention training to more than 500 Island children and teens.
Information on Canadian Red Cross programs and services to Islanders as well as options to donate or volunteer is available online by visiting the PEI Region at www.redcross.ca/atlantic, in person at its Charlottetown office at 62 Prince Street or by calling (902) 628-6262.