THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410120211
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Whenever there's trouble, it's a comfort to know we can call on each other for help.
That's the appealing philosophy behind a new program organized by the Chesapeake Health Department and Chesapeake General Hospital called ``Neighborhood Helpers.''
Citizen volunteers from throughout the city have been trained in minor first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, blood-pressure checks and emergency notification procedures so they'll be ready to come to the aid of others whenever a need arises.
The ``neighborhood helpers'' are not intended to take the place of other emergency response systems in the city, but to supplement them. There are situations in which a Band-Aid, a blood-pressure check or a word of advice is enough. Many of the problems which our Emergency Medical Response teams are called upon to deal with could be handled just as effectively and at less expense by a willing citizen with good judgment and a little know-how.
The Neighborhood Helper program is a community-builder. We commend those who thought of it and those who volunteer their time to make it work. by CNB