Rotary Saving Lives in Guatemala

The Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club recently sponsored a District Grant project in Guatemala to equip Emergency First Responders with well-stocked Trauma Bags.

Westbrook Fire and Rescue Chief Andrew Turcotte, a Rotarian, headed up the acquisition of the bags. “Sometimes we take for granted the equipment that we have here in the United States,” Chief Turcotte commented, “but for other, non-industrialized nations access to this caliber of equipment is unheard of.”

Dr. Donald Van Nimwegen from Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, MN conducted a training session instructing the EMT’s on the proper use of the equipment. Rotarian Dr. Bill Chadwick, presented the bags to medical clinics in Montericco, Cuatro Cayos and to the Rio Dulce Fire and Rescue Department in Guatemala.

Two hours after receiving their bag a text and picture from Chief Juan Martinez of the Rio Dulce Fire Department was received showing a little boy who was hit by a car being securely transported using this equipment. “We saved a little boy tonight, thank you” wrote the Chief.