Lord Mayor shows his support for first aid vision

Volunteer first aiders are preparing to celebrate a particularly special presence in the Lord Mayor’s Show proceedings this Saturday 8 November.

Renowned for its excellent service to the Show as first-aid providers, this year, St John Ambulance gain pride of place as one of the prime beneficiaries of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and as a forerunner to the launch of their vision of ‘healthy hearts’ in the Capital.

As part of the Show St John Ambulance will demonstrate the crucial role they play in the life of the City.

‘The future is already producing new challenges for St John Ambulance in London and the organisation’s next test is to do all we can to combat the high incidence of heart disease in the Capital,’ commented Len Bamber, CEO of St John Ambulance London (Prince of Wales’s) District.

The organisation will use a vast majority of the money raised throughout 2009 to place over 1000 defibrillators across the City, in Canary Wharf and in Tower Hamlets, together with the essential training and support.

‘We have been providing first aid support at the Lord Mayor’s Show for many years and in addition to taking part in the parade itself, we are thrilled to have the Lord Mayor’s support for our vision of making London safer and healthier.’

To celebrate their part in the Lord Mayor’s Show this year, members have worked alongside premier accounting firm Grant Thornton to create a very special float, which will illustrate their intentions to help ensure a legacy of ‘healthy hearts’ for London. As a gesture of goodwill, Grant Thornton will donate all of the resources used during the procession to the organisation, for use in their everyday first aid activity.

As well as the part St John Ambulance London will play in the parade, they will deploy 120 first aiders, 80 Cadets and six nurses, to staff nine treatment centres positioned along the route of the parade, providing essential medical support and first aid. Four cycle response units will be in attendance and seven ambulances will be on standby to ensure the quick transportation of any casualty requiring further treatment.