procedures, former Commissioner of Bermuda's St. John Ambulance Brigade said last week.

And Mr. Barrie Meade said thanks to this, the Brigade now has 24 instructors available to assist the public at major events throughout the year.

Speaking at the Hamilton Rotary's weekly luncheon at Princess Hotel on Tuesday, Mr. Meade outlined the Brigade's responsibilities, achievements over the past year, and suggested ways Rotarians can further help the charity.

He stressed that the Brigade's major function is first-aid training.

The Brigade trains about 140 people a year in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and offers annual refresher courses.

It also offers a 16-hour first-aid course, which usually runs for two hours one evening a week.

Participants in this course also receive a first-aid manual and course work book. Recertification for first aid is also provided by the Brigade every three years.

Mr. Meade said more than 290 Government employees have been qualified in first aid since Government, under a Health and Safety at Work scheme, allowed a group from the St. John Brigade in Canada to come down and train all local Brigade instructors and some Government employees.

He said this has provided assistance to the Brigade whose volunteers performed 198 different duties in 1991 at major events.

"Without their presence some of the sporting events in Bermuda could not take place,'' Mr. Meade said, "so we all owe a great debt to members of St. John who come out and do so much for us.'' Mr. Meade said Rotarians could also help the Brigade to continue its community service by giving more moral, practical and financial support to the charity.