Witnessing a traffic accident and feeling powerless to help is what inspired St John Malta Operations Commissioner Christopher Borg Cardona to learn first aid and rescue skills, he told The Malta Independent on Sunday. Borg Cardona said that he has been with St John Malta for over 30 years and that he has found "immense satisfaction" in being able to help others in their moments of need.

The Operations Commissioner said that everyone has something unique to contribute to St John Ambulance and Rescue's work, adding that the sense of camaraderie among fellow volunteers and the shared dedication to serving the community has been "incredibly fulfilling". It is a commitment driven by a "profound desire" to make a difference and support those in distress, he said.

"Lawyers, architects, drivers, clerks, retired individuals, etc... We need certain skill sets and everyone is capable of contributing," the Commissioner said.

Borg Cardona said that up until two years ago, St John Rescue and St John Ambulance were two separate entities under the banner of St John Malta, but that these two branches have since merged their operations under one section now known as St John Ambulance and Rescue.

He said that this merger has provided the organisation with the opportunity to restructure and consolidate its resources. "Now we have a larger, more resilient, and more efficient volunteer organisation to deal with emergencies and provide services for major public events."

The Operations Commissioner added that the organisation has sections in Birzebbuga, Valletta and Paola. He continued that the Operations Headquarters are in Madliena while the main administrative headquarters are in Valletta.

Borg Cardona was asked if there is a general trend of St John's members being engaged in certain roles such as police officers, firefighters or other similar fields. He replied that while the organisation naturally attracts individuals from service-oriented professions, its members come from diverse backgrounds. He said that Civil Protection also tends to be one of those services, and that St John Ambulance and Rescue is proud of its history of having many such members.

"There are also many foreigners living in Malta who have joined," the Operations Commissioner commented, adding that these members do voluntary work as a way of contributing to the country they reside in. "The skills and roles of our members vary, and people come from all sorts of backgrounds."

The organisation said that some volunteers join St John Ambulance and Rescue to fulfil childhood dreams of becoming rescuers, firefighters or even ambulance drivers; aspirations they could not pursue professionally but now satisfy through voluntary work. He continued that these individuals often come from entirely different industries, yet find great personal fulfilment in these roles. He said that for them, volunteering with St John Malta is not only about serving the community but also provides a mental break from their regular professions, offering a unique blend of purpose and passion.

Borg Cardona said that the organisation also operates a cadet programme, as well as a youth programme known as Badgers. These programmes conduct training and activities aimed at teaching awareness and certain life skills, he said. "Training the first aid and rescuers of the future," he remarked, adding that the organisation also organises camps and gives its youth members a taste of rescue operations, such as water rescue. "As part of the training, we teach people the proper technique to swim and preserve stamina, which genuinely makes a big difference."

Expanding further on the aspect of training, he said that the organisation primarily trains its members in various disciplines so that they can support the authorities when there are emergencies, as well as provide additional support when there are major events in the country. He said that the ambulance section has a number of ambulances which carry out various duties, "especially on the weekend when there may be a number of activities, concerts or parties. The first-aiders are there with our ambulances".

He said that every member of St John Malta has to learn first aid as part of the basics, and that from there they can then choose to expand further and be trained in other disciplines or skills. "For example, we don't just stop at basic first aid, but there is training for more advanced first aid along with courses for firefighting." The organisation also offers a water rescue course during the summer.

"There are also specialised courses that have to do with rescuing from heights... These are all modules, which a person can undertake to gain skills during their time volunteering with us," the Operations Commissioner said. He remarked that members are always attaining new skills and developing friendships, as they form part of a community and contribute to society.

When it comes to the rescue section, he said that it has various disciplines, "primarily firefighting, urban search and rescue and water rescue". He added that the organisation has also begun operating a diving section as of last year, and that this section is growing and will soon be organising underwater clean-ups.

"We are here as backup if something occurs where these types of specialised resources are needed. We also have our own equipment, such as fire engines, boats, diving equipment, ROVs, etc.," He said that this is specialised equipment which costs money to both acquire and maintain, but is very important to have when needed.

"That is the gist of our organisation - you have a number of people coming from all types of backgrounds who are training and being prepared to help society. That is the objective."

He referred to the Pope's visit as an example of a major event that St John Malta assisted with, explaining that events such as this involve operations spanning days with the involvement of a lot of volunteers. He said that in the case of the Pope's visit, the organisation had sent out around 80 volunteers.

Talking about some of the specifics of how the organisation handles events, he said that aside from ambulances, some events might need first aid posts on-site and that in such instances St John Malta sets up tents and its own devices to be used for such activities. He added that if something were to happen, these resources would be there and ready to be utilised. "Our Rescue members can also be involved in these operations, whether as ambulance drivers or on first aid duty. This flexibility is one of the key benefits of our recent merger," he explained.

He also emphasised that volunteers can contribute in various ways beyond frontline duties, including supporting the organisation's administration, maintenance and fund-raising efforts. Financially, St John Malta relies heavily on donations, which he said are crucial for investing in equipment, enhancing training programmes and sustaining ongoing operations.

Additionally, he said that St John Malta often seeks contributions from companies for specific projects, while also receiving funds from the government through initiatives for NGOs.

The Operations Commissioner said that despite being a volunteer-based organisation, the costs associated with maintaining and certifying their equipment are comparable to those of a large enterprise. "The level of responsibility remains the same," he emphasised.

St John Malta is known to collaborate and work with international organisations, such as a recent initiative where members of the organisation trained with Merseyside Fire and Rescue. Borg Cardona said that St John Malta has been "working with Merseyside for 15 years" and that it has assisted and provided the organisation with equipment such as fire engines over the years.

He said that there are other foreign organisations and associations that his organisation works with, including the German Life Saving Association and the Austrian Fire Service. "These types of exchanges are crucial because you can learn from each other's experiences," he remarked.

St John Malta is an organisation with historical and cultural significance to the country, as one of the oldest active NGOs, along with bearing an important name to the country's history. "St John is possibly the oldest NGO in Malta," Borg Cardona commented. He added that Malta was the organisation's first branch established outside of its origin in England.

"You'll find us in every European country, as well as in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and some Caribbean countries. It originates from the Order of St John, everyone knows that story, and they're known as the Hospitallers. That culture remains and encourages us to help others and those in need. I think that is the gist of St John, it is heavily tied to Malta."

Borg Cardona concluded by saying that people who have been part of the organisation seem to have always stayed tied to it, "and they all say that they learned a lot from the experience". He added that St John Malta gives a lot of importance to raising awareness about safety and health, and that the organisation is active on social media in this regard. "It's not just that we give service when something happens, but prevention is even more important."

Those interested in donating to St John Malta can do so by reaching out to the organisation on [email protected]