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Valley’s Red Cross skills to benefit Olympic events
The ‘sister chapter’ from Qingdao learned its skills in the Mahoning Valley.
BOARDMAN — The American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter helped train volunteers of the Chinese Red Cross Society’s Qingdao Branch, who are providing water rescue and first-aid services at the 2008 Olympic Games sailing events.
Qingdao, a port city of about 7 million, located on China’s east coast, is the venue for the sailing events and is also the home of the Qingdao Branch, the “sister chapter” of the Red Cross Mahoning Chapter since 2002.
That “sister” relationship spawned exchange visits between delegations of the two Red Cross units. And, it was during a visit by the Chinese delegation here in November 2007 that they learned the latest information on the American Red Cross’ water safety, lifeguard programs and first aid.
The information was presented by Michael Bowman, administrative assistant for Youngstown State University’s student campus and adventure recreation programs. In addition, the Chinese received a copy of the Red Cross water safety and lifeguard program manual, which was translated into Chinese by two YSU instructors, Peter Chen and Andy Chang.
Florence Wang, former president of the American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter Board of Directors, this week interviewed a member of the 2007 Chinese delegation, Ding Gang, vice president of the Qingdao Chapter, on behalf of The Vindicator.
Wang said Gang confirmed that the materials and experience provided by the Mahoning Chapter were used in preparing for the Olympic Games by training 20 volunteers in water rescue safety and 110 in first aid.
Wang said that the Chinese Red Cross personnel will be dressed the same as other Olympic volunteers, and will not be distinguishable to American viewers.
She also said the last time the Mahoning Chapter delegation visited China in 2006, the Qingdao Harbor had been rebuilt in preparation for the Olympic Games sailing events, and the Olympic Village, where the athletes live, was under construction.
“It was beautiful,” she said.
Thomas E. Will who, along with Wang, was instrumental in establishing the “sister chapter” relationship with the Qingdao Branch, said the visits back and forth have been an eye-opener for him.
“We initially entered into the sister chapter relationship because we had similar interests. They had a lot to offer on how to involve youth in volunteering services for their Red Cross. We were interested in learning how they did that. And in return, they knew the American Red Cross was a primary deliverer of water safety and first-aid training,” said Will, a member and former president of the Mahoning Chapter board.
“We’ve gone to China twice, in 2002 and 2006, and they have come here three times. Chapter funds were not used for either trip. Everybody paid their own way,” he said.
Also, he noted that chapter directors and others paid to house the Chinese while they were in the U.S. No Red Cross funds have been used for visiting China or hosting the Chinese here, said Will, who retired in 2002 as director of engineering at the Lordstown General Motors complex.
The last visit of the Chinese delegation, in November 2007, “we delivered some real content: instructor manuals and audio visual material.
Bowman’s overview included information on first aid, professional rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, how to administer oxygen, how to operate an automated electronic defibrillator, and other rescue skills.
“They seemed very interested in what we were talking about. They had never been exposed to the Red Cross water safety end of things,” Bowman said.
“I think the relationship is good. What I have personally learned is that despite it being a different country and culture, the people are just like you and me. They respect the United States and want to learn from us,” said Will.
alcorn@vindy.com