The Youth Component

The youth component of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Ontario is broken down into three age groups: Juniors (ages 6-10),

Cadets (ages 11-15), and Crusaders (ages 16-21). The youth programme encompasses a wide variety of subject matter, including patient care. It is comprised of three equal elements: Patient Care training, the Proficiency (Badge) Programme, and Social/Fun activities.

The objectives of the Brigade with respect to Cadet and Crusader Divisions are:

• To provide opportunities for the youth of Canada to learn and practice patient care skills and other subjects conducive to the training of good citizens;
• To encourage young people to follow the way of life exemplified in the Cadet Code of Chivalry;
• To develop the spirit of combined effort while giving due consideration to the personality of the individual Crusader/Cadet;
• To promote a healthy lifestyle;
• To encourage among young people a full and enterprising use of leisure by providing all the facilities of a national youth organization; and
• To lay the foundation for membership in the Adult component of the Brigade.

In Ontario the social part of the Cadet program includes activities like camping, swim nights, skate nights, video nights, dances, field trips.

The Proficiency badge programme offers each Cadet and Crusader the opportunity to learn new skills in a wide variety of subjects (i.e. Canoeing, International Friendship, Handicrafts, Team and Individual Sports, Computer Science, Natural History, Drama and many more) in seven different categories. Once a member has completed 12 proficiencies over a minimum of a three year period, including at least one proficiency from each category, they can apply for their Grand Prior s Badge. This award is presented annually by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and is considered the highest award a Cadet or Crusader can achieve. The Grand Prior s Badge is also the only youth badge which may be worn on the Adult uniform.

The role of a leader in a Cadet Division is to assist in the development of today s youth in a manner that promotes a strong team spirit, while assisting each member to grow individually. In order to be effective each leader must be a role model, and lead by example. This means that the leaders in a Cadet Division have to be highly dedicated and possess a wide variety of skills.

1. Juniors (age 6-10)

The Junior programme is designed for our newest and youngest members. They learn home safety skills, how to make new friends, and much more. While having fun and earning badges they learn about the rest of the organization and why we care for others.

2. Cadets (age 11-15)

The Cadet programme picks up where the Junior programme left off. Each Cadet is trained in Emergency First Aid, but that is only 1/3 of the programme. Cadets work on Proficiency Subjects that broaden their knowledge and give them new challenges. Fun activities are interspersed into the training activities in order to round out the programme and keep them interested. Cadets are taught the importance of working in groups, while giving due attention to individual growth and input. Some Cadets will excel and take on junior leadership roles. Cadets may participate at public service events under the guidance of Crusader or Adult members. Cadets must re-qualify annually in Emergency First Aid and attain sixty hours of service.

3. Crusaders (age 16-21)

Crusaders carry on with the Proficiency Programme taking on bigger challenges which will hopefully culminate in the highest achievement; The Grand Prior s Badge. Crusaders also undertake the Brigade Training System (BTS) and challenge the Brigade Assessment Process (BAP). Crusaders are encouraged to go out on duty and perform service in their local communities. Their leadership skills are stimulated by providing them with increasingly greater tasks. They too have fun by participating in the same activities as the Cadets. Crusaders are taught to be able to communicate and work with adults, peers, and younger members.

They must either re-qualify at the standard first aid level (and be supervised by a minimum of a BAP level 1 qualified member while performing patient care) or successfully challenge the BAP (and perform unsupervised patient care) and perform sixty hours of service annually.

4. The Adult Component (age 18 and over)

The Adult component of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Ontario has several member and unit types. The minimum age for enrolment in the Adult component is 18. There is no upper age limit to the Brigade; membership is based solely on ability. The programs offered to Adult members can be as diverse as the imagination and teamwork of the members of the division. Adult Divisions exist to perform some form of public service in their community. Beyond BTS training and public service, it is up to the members to work together as a team to provide for all the members needs and make their unit successful. The following is a list of Adult Division and member types:

• Patient care providers
• Therapy Dog Divisions and members
• University/College response teams
• Search and Rescue Units
• Auxiliary members
• The Fellowship

The role of a leader within the Adult component of the Brigade is to encourage the individual development of the membership while building a strong team environment that promotes their function within the organization.

1. Patient care providers

Adult members who provide patient care train each year in the Brigade Training System. This member type is the most common in Ontario. Members are entitled and encouraged to increase their level of training through the BTS program, and challenge the BAP at the appropriate level. Their program can include all forms of non-BTS training and social activities to maintain membership interest and promote the team environment. Members must either requalify at the standard first aid level (and be supervised by a minimum of a BAP level 1 qualified member while performing patient care) or successfully challenge the BAP (and perform unsupervised patient care) as well as perform sixty hours of service annually.

2. Therapy dog divisions and members

These units provide a unique form of care; members assisting with their dogs in the individual healing process of the sick and injured. Members and their dogs go through an extensive training process before they are allowed to participate in the program. Members are offered a Standard First Aid course and are encouraged to increase their knowledge and skills level by participating in BTS training and eventually challenging the BAP. Members must provide sixty hours of public service annually and are also entitled to all the awards and recognition provided for all Brigade members.

3. University/college response teams

These divisions have existed in varying formats for several years.

While the uniform worn by the members is not identical to the regular Brigade uniform, the service they provide is very similar. University/College Division members generally wear a nylon shell type jacket with the St. John Ambulance emblem, and carry fanny packs. University/College Division members usually provide an "on call" emergency response service during the day while attending classes at their respective educational institutions, and also provide patient care services at campus functions. Members must re-qualify annually at BAP level 1 and perform sixty hours of service to maintain their efficiency. Members are entitled to all the benefits of membership including the awards and recognition awarded for all Brigade members.

4. Search and rescue units and members

The current development of Search and Rescue members within divisions or Search and Rescue Units will provide ground search and rescue assistance in co-operation with the local and provincial emergency services. Members will partake in specialized training to develop their skills as well as maintaining the annual BAP qualification. Search and Rescue Unit members who provide a minimum of sixty hours of service annually are entitled to all the service and awards recognition for all Brigade members.

5. Auxiliary members

There are no requirements for efficiency in this category. They perform tasks to further the aims and objectives of the organization by usually providing forms of service other than patient care. Auxiliary members who perform a minimum of sixty hours of service a year are entitled to the service awards of the organization.

6. The Fellowship

The Fellowship is comprised of former Brigade members, Branch members, and friends of St. John who wish to keep their ties to the organization and get together socially. Fellowships can provide knowledge and support to any of the arms of the organization.