Keeping a tradition whose origins go back to the times of the crusades, to help people in need is in the center of attention at the Romanian Maltese Relief Service.
First aid training and taking part in actions of intervention in case of emergency under the form of premedical first aid is our continuous concern, as we are interested in ensuring quality training for the members of our organization and not only for them.
Since its foundation, SAMR was among the first organizations in Romania after 1989 that promoted first aid training on national level, as well as the effective participation of lay volunteers in giving first aid. Our activity was recognized on national as well as on international level, being invited to take part in large scale actions: in 2005 we took part in Youth world-days in Köln in Germany; in 2006 we organized a first aid point on the Black Sea coast during July and August, in cooperation with the County Ambulance Service in Constanţa.
An important activity in which SAMR took place was giving first aid to the participants at the European Ecumenical Week in Sibiu, 3-9 September 2007. The activity was carried out in cooperation with the Johanniter Unfallhilfe in Erfurt, Germany and with the support of the following local authorities: mayor’s office and Public Health Directorate in Sibiu. On behalf of SAMR 30 volunteer members took part who were trained in giving first aid as secondary health service employees and doctors. The participant branches were the following: Baia Mare, Bistriţa, Blaj, Bucharest, Cluj (General Secretary), Sfântu Gheorghe. The activity was carried out with the support of the Knights of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Romania.
SAMR insured on duty service during the whole program, setting up 4 first aid points.
We also have to mention the SAMR initiative in Baia Mare, which has played an active part in the missions of the ambulance service since November 2007.
First aid training is organized, as it has been until now, at the request of the territorial organizations or external solicitation.
In the first year I kept 9 courses on the following locations: Baia Mare (3 trainings), Timişoara (2), Arad (2), Herculane and Bucharest (external solicitation).
