HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-12-08, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016.
Scrimgeour group conducts medical clinics
An education
Several communities throughout Mexico were the recipients of medical clinics and training
thanks to an initiative that began with Doug Scrimgeour well over a year ago. Scrimgeour
started bringing aid to Mexico in the form of bunker suits and equipment for rural Mexican fire
departments and the program has since expanded to include medical clinics and training
through a partnership with the Rotary Club of Stratford. Above, young people are taught how
to secure someone in a stretcher, while below they were taught the basics of CPR. (Photos
submitted)
Trail Committee has good year
The Wingham Trail Committee is
moving forward with several
important projects according to the
annual report the group presented to
North Huron Township Council.
The group, which maintains trails
throughout Wingham, was
represented by members Hayley
Murray and Phil Beard.
Murray, a younger member of the
group, explained that she moved to
Wingham earlier this year based on
its proximity to green spaces and,
soon after discovering the trail in the
community, became a part of the
group that maintains it.
She explained that, over the year,
the group expanded the trail to the
school, removed several invasive
species from the trail in various
areas, installed barriers and enacted
erosion controls. She also reported
that plaques had been placed on the
bridge.
The group works as an
independent organization, requiring
no funds from council and
working completely through
volunteer hours. Beard reported that
the group logged approximately 50
hours of volunteer time throughout
the year.
In 2017, the group plans to
beautify the entrance garden for the
trail, general maintenance, identify
erosion control needs and continue
to address invasive species.
Beard thanked the municipality
for its efforts in areas surrounding
the trail, and Reeve Neil Vincent
thanked Beard and the group for the
efforts put forward.
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
A project that began last year in
the brain of former Blyth firefighter
Doug Scrimgeour that has helped
thousands of people in Mexico has
recently expanded its scope.
Scrimgeour's program began by
sending shipping containers full of
used or expired firefighter
equipment such as bunker suits and
hoses to Mexico where, in many
rural communities, such items were
simply unaffordable.
After an overwhelming response
from fire departments all over North
America, numerous shipping
containers have been sent
throughout Mexico, outfitting
firefighters and providing them with
equipment they otherwise couldn't
afford.
Earlier this year, however, the
scope of the donations expanded to
include medical equipment like
crutches and wheelchairs. The
expansion also included training
opportunities through the
Emergency Services Training Centre
in Blyth and its access to online
training for firefighters and other
emergency services personnel.
It was in that vein that Scrimgeour
facilitated hosting a medical clinic in
Mexico for the first time late last
month.
As reported in The Guadalajara
Reporter, over two dozen Canadian
doctors, nurses and volunteers
arrived in Mexico through
Scrimgeour's organization, the
Lakeside Fire and Red Cross
Assistance Group, to carry out the
program. The group arrived at the
beginning of November and stayed
for nearly two weeks before heading
back to Ontario. The project was co-
sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of
Stratford and Ajijic, Mexico.
Scrimgeour continues to be
heavily involved in the program,
collecting items throughout the year
in Ontario, as well as organizing
other collections throughout Canada
and the United States, and helping
with fundraisers in Mexico, where
he and his wife Diane Radford spend
their winters.
During their time in Mexico, the
group ran free health clinics at a
number of different health and
community centres, carrying out
general medical evaluations, dental
care, eyeglass fittings and handing
out basic medication.
There was also some medical
training, including CPR and basic
First Aid training for Mexican
residents that had never before
received such training.
The Guadalajara Reporter said
that the group ran into several
roadblocks along the way, including
flight delays, having their supplies
confiscated by customs officers and
inclement weather, among other
problems.
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