“Run Team 1, would you please respond to the north side of the Harley Stage for a person complaining of breathing difficulty. "Run Team 2, there is a child with multiple cuts and abrasions in the children's area on the lake side. Please respond."

These were typical dispatch assignments given to new First Aid Service Team (FAST) volunteer teams during their recent FEST Day training on the Maier Festival Grounds. June 2 was a full training day filled with scenario responses, radio protocols and grounds orientation for more than 120 volunteers involved in the day's activities. 
 
FAST has been training 67 new volunteers in preparation for providing first aid at area events this summer. Each new volunteer is required to attend a full day Trauma Workshop, a Medical Emergency Workshop and CPR Pro/AED training before their participation in FEST Day.

Last year FAST provided first aid coverage at 82 different events, many of them multiple day activities. They treated over 6,100 victims and logged almost 5,700 volunteer hours! All of this was accomplished with the training and skills of 240 dedicated volunteers. They are teachers and students, janitors and engineers, EMTs and disk jockeys, nurses and accountants, working together to care for the community.