With less than one week to go until The Guernsey NatWest International Island Games, we would like to introduce you to Janet Unitt, volunteer with St John Ambulance.
Janet is the Company Secretarial Administrator at Cleland & Co, having joined in May 2022.
Janet has been volunteering with St John Ambulance as an event first aider for 5 years and has been a member of the Ambulance Reserve for 4 years. In 2022 she became an advanced first aider. Janet is also a community first responder meaning she can provide immediate care to patients in the first few minutes before an ambulance arrives.
What are you most looking forward to about the Island Games?
The atmosphere! I think it will be so positive. It will be exciting to see lots of new faces on the island. We also have St John volunteers coming over to support us from England, Wales, Gibraltar and Australia so it will be a great opportunity to meet and work with volunteers from other regions.
How will you be involved?
I have taken the week off work so that I will be available to provide first aid cover for the events that St John Ambulance are covering. These are athletics, triathlon, cycling, and the Guernsey men’s football matches. We are also providing cover for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Have you had to do any additional training to prepare?
We have been training extensively for this at St John. Whilst we are revising and refreshing our skills in first aid and sports injuries, we have also carried out additional training for the practicalities of the event, access at the Garenne Stand, plans for extricating patients from various locations, vehicle and equipment familiarisation.
How do you think Guernsey will do as a host?
So much hard work has gone into preparing this event and I am hopeful that this will all pay off. Islanders have certainly been inspired by the Island Games organising committee and volunteers and I anticipate that there will be support for the athletes from all islands.