Staff members of Colina Insurance Limited recently participated in first-aid and safety training certification sessions, which provided participants with the practical knowledge and skills to respond effectively during a medical emergency.

The training sessions were conducted by the Doctors Hospital Institute of Learning and took place on September 28 and 30 in the JWP Conference Room of Colina’s J. Whitney Pinder Building.

Employees were certified under the American Heart Association’s Heartsaver portfolio, which includes training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), which can help restore a normal heart rhythm in certain cardiac emergencies.

For Colina, Heartsaver certification forms part of the company’s wider commitment to workplace and community safety, corporate social responsibility and emergency preparedness.

A critical part of the training involved hands-on practical exercises designed to equip participants to respond effectively to cardiac and breathing emergencies.

Participants were trained to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, assess an individual’s responsiveness and breathing, perform high-quality chest compressions and administer rescue breaths.

Lifesaving techniques were practiced on training mannequins under the supervision of a certified instructor, who assessed participants’ ability to perform techniques correctly.

“Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time, including in the workplace. The ability to perform CPR and administer first-aid effectively can mean the difference between life and death for someone experiencing cardiac arrest,” said Maxine V. Seymour, Colina’s director of corporate communications.

“Colina is proud to provide its employees with the medical knowledge to assist their colleagues, families, friends and members of the wider community in the midst of a medical crisis. We also thank the Doctors Hospital Institute of Learning for delivering these highly informative and valuable training sessions.”