15:05 | Lima, Dec. 05 (ANDINA).
Gary Schindele, a volunteer at Fire Department of Clermont, Florida, United States, traveled to the Amazon jungle of Peru to share how fire-prevention education might positively impact residents there.
Schindele provided first-aid instruction, taught adults how to use dry-wall studs as splints and garbage bags as slings and ties and also how to properly handle potential neck, spinal-cord and trauma injuries. He also shared fire-safety tips of "stop, drop, cover your face and roll," along with a modified fire-prevention program with about 400 children and their families. And he donated money for school supplies and a CD player for the school.
"There is so much that is needed there," said Schindele, who for more than six years has volunteered his time as Clermont's public fire-safety education assistant and community relations coordinator and has been a certified volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years.
"In this part of Peru they have a high incidence of pediatric burns because of how they have to live, but they are incredibly self-confident and innocent," he said. "They truly do not have anything, but they are all so happy, clean, and take very good care of each other and their environment."
Schindele traveled to Peru to support the installation of health-care products for a new 16–bed hospital in Yantolo, Peru. While there, he was asked by Dr. Luis Vasquez, founder of the Yantalo Peru Foundation, to provide fire-safety education and first aid to the construction workers, community members and to the local village school.
Schindele also gathered literature to share with children for modified first aid in an area of Yantalo where there is virtually no health care available, orlandosentinel.com reported
"It is currently three hours away through mountainous terrain to reach the nearest hospital for this community, and even if they reach it, there is very little that may help them when they are sick," said Schindele, adding that doctors have no diagnostic instruments or technology.
Schindele is a "great asset" and "very community-minded individual," Clermont fire Chief Carle Bishop said.
"He is always looking for an opportunity to share his wisdom about fire prevention and knows how to make it interesting," Bishop said.
(END) INT/MOC
Published: 12/5/2012