New York/CMM…..Twenty more Jamaican High Schools will receive Automated External Defibrillators (AEDS), and First Aid Kits from Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) as part of its annual “Defibrillator to Schools Program,” in a presentation and training ceremony that will take place on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 (9:00am-2:00pm) at the S Hotel located on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay. A second presentation is being planned for later on in the year in keeping with TJB's mission to donate a minimum of 25 units to mark its 25th anniversary.
(L-R) Nurses, Sharon Thompson and Delores McGregor take the group through the CPR steps Expected to be in attendance are, His Worship The Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis, Mayor of Montego Bay; Keith Wellington, ISSA President; from the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information, Elton Johnson Education Officer, Physical Education; Janet Silvera, President, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI),and Frank James & Grace Burnett, Grace Kennedy Executives. Grace Kennedy has donated five of the units being presented to schools.
The programme, which was born out of grief and loss, has been nothing short of impactful with the initiative which began in 2014 creating awareness of the need for emergency resources at sporting activities and other venues. The heightened awareness of the defibrillator programme has also extended generally to schools and private sector organizations yielding a cadre of trained staff. Schools are now requesting to be included in the annual presentations which were prompted by the sudden and tragic deaths of student-athletes Cavahn McKenzie (2014) and Dominic James (2016), both at sporting events. In addition to receiving units, school staff are also trained in CPR and are presented a certificate on completion. Schools can send up to four members of staff to be trained at the given sessions. It is the organization’s goal to outfit each high school with its dedicated AED unit. This presentation will bring the total number of schools outfitted by TJB and indirect donors to just over 70.
Schools set to receive units in this round of awards are; Anchovy High , Black River High, Cambridge High, Grange Hill High, Irwin High, Lewisville High, Little London High, Maggotty High, Maldon High, Manchester High, Maud McLeod High, Merlene Ottey High, Munro College, Muschett High, Nain High, Newell High, Roger Clarke High, Troy High, Belmont Academy, and Knockalva High.
Coaches being taken through the AED protocols during training
"The welfare of our athletes motivated us 25 years ago to start TJB. Their welfare was foremost in our minds with the launch and continuation of this program. This presentation of 20 AEDs and training of staff from schools primarily in the western section of Island represents our continued commitment. We thank our sponsors and supporters,” said Chairman, Irwine Clare, Snr.
Nurses, Sharon Thompson and Delores McGregor from the Diaspora Healthcare Sector will conduct the training sessions.
Sponsors of this year’s event are Grace Kennedy, the S Hotel, VP Records, African-American Baptist Church of PA and New York Life Insurance Company. [i]
Please visit www.teamjamaicabickle.org or call 718.523.2861 for more information.
