Governor-general salutes first responders as real heroes

Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae says people who are first responders to emergency situations must be given recognition.
He said this while presenting awards to police and ambulance officers during a St John/police first aid hero awards ceremony last week during St John Day.
“Congratulations on your awards and may you be an inspiration to those who come after you as well as in our communities and our nation, as a whole,” he said.
“As first responders in emergency situations, these individuals play a critical role in saving lives, and save lives they do.
“They deserve our praise and recognition. It is therefore fitting that as we celebrate the St John Day, we acknowledge the valiant efforts of these men and women.
“Police officers in our community have undoubtedly very difficult jobs. I see too often stories where our officers aren’t doing as they should.
“It is human nature to focus on negatives, when in actual fact, it is equally important to recognise where good is being done.”
The inaugural St John Police First Aid Hero award is about recognising ordinary police constables, who have stepped up in the heat of the moment to provide first aid to victims and casualties in challenging situations.
“The award helps promote awareness of the vital role of our police constables when they are first responders to all sorts of situations,” Sir Bob said.
“I understand, this ceremony is the first of such in as many years, and I would like to see more of it in years to come.” Sir Bob said he was pleased that St John would be partnering with police in a number of initiatives, including training marine and other specialist police units providing initial first aid to people injured in the community.
This goes through to providing helicopter rescue in the future.
“St John provides the full spectrum of care – from teaching first aid so that people at the scene can provide the initial life sustaining care until the ambulance can arrive, to providing fully fledged intensive care para-medicine and air ambulance services,” Sir Bob said.
“First aid training is another important service that the St John Ambulance provides and one that we should all take advantage of.”
He encouraged the public to seek first aid training at the St John Ambulance and more importantly, to support its work.
“It was disheartening to see and hear in the media recently, the attack on St John Ambulance staff at a major fundraising event in Port Moresby,” Sir Bob said.
“Such cowardly acts could have an adverse effect on the work of the St John Ambulance and put lives at risk.”