Following reports of his heroics last month, Aman Parchment was a featured guest on the Power 106 radio programme – "Good Evening Jamaica". Also appearing were Darin James, Head of the Treasure Beach Emergency Response Unit, and Jason Henzel, a founder of the unit.

Below is a synopsis of the interviews:

AMAN
Re: The Emergency Response Unit: “I am definitely a member of the unit, and thank God for the experience… If it were not for that training that guy (the utility worker) would not have had a Christmas”. (The day before the celebrated effort on behalf of the utility worker, Aman, coincidentally, also performed CPR on a female visitor to the community and probably saved her life as well!)

The benefits of CPR training: “The word on the street now is that if you know how to do it you can save somebody’s life. I have done some pretty decent things in my life, which I am proud of, but there is nothing that I have done that gives me more satisfaction than bringing these people back to life. It is the ultimate satisfaction, as far as I am concerned”.

JASON
On the establishment of the Treasure Beach Emergency Response Unit:
A guest of Jakes was on Frenchman beach and observed a child drowning, while several other persons on the beach looked on helplessly. He rescued the child and performed CPR. It turned out that the rescuer was Dr. James Sadock, then of Bellevue Hospital in New York. He offered to work with the community, through the Treasure Beach foundation, BREDS, to train fishermen in water rescue and CPR.
True to his word, Dr. Sadock returned to Jamaica with approximately ten colleagues and trained thirty fishermen, as promised.
This initiative grew into a full fledged emergency response mechanism, complete with an ambulance and first responders.

Acquiring the ambulance: The International Society for Emergency Care (to which Dr. Sadock and his colleagues belong) raised a significant portion of the funds. Food for the Poor donated the shipping cost and auto dealer, Daryl Vaz, handled the importation from Japan at no charge to the community.
Would wish to see this initiative replicated throughout the island: “We don’t want to have it confined to Treasure Beach; we would love to hear that Southfield and Junction have their own, and we have been talking with the Whitehouse community about starting one in Whitehouse. You need a bunch of committed people, and once you have those committed people, with the support from these doctors in New York and the guys in Treasure Beach, we know that we can make it happen”.

The role of the Treasure Beach foundation, BREDS: The response unit is the foundation’s biggest success. “Yes; we have built classrooms and computer labs for children; we’ve built sports fields and basketball courts, but as Aman said, there’s absolutely no satisfaction like saving somebody’s life. It’s life changing!”

Re collaboration with Black River Hospital: There’s now a new Accident & Emergency Wing at the hospital, which has been doing outstanding work. Kudos to Alwin Miller, hospital CEO and Dr. McRae, the SMO. Good partnership has developed between the Treasure Beach response team and the A& E unit. BREDS has initiated an annual award to the Emergency Nurse of the Year. Congrats to Nurse Ashman, winner of the inaugural award.

DARIN (Described by Jason as the strongest link in the emergency response chain)
“I take great pleasure in doing this for my community and I have learnt a lot from being a First Aid Responder. It has changed a lot of lives, including mine, in the community. Residents know that they can depend on 30-to-40 people… that they can call on them at any time to assist them in their time of need”.

On how the ambulance and other aspects of the service are maintained: “Our funds come from the drivers and the guest houses in the community… Some guests who learn about the programme and when they return home send back funds. People just make contributions. We don’t really have fundraisers; people keep us going with small donations”.

No monetary compensation: “Not at all. It’s all coming from the heart. Some nights I don’t even sleep, especially on a Friday night when it is really my turn. Each day of the week we have a different team leader for that day and when that phone is forwarded to you that night it is hard to sleep, so it takes a lot of commitment and dedication to work with this programme”.

Kudos to Orville Sutherland as well: After Aman rendered first aid to the utility worker, transported him to hospital and provided him with oxygen, which he (Orville) had installed in the vehicles a few months ago.

Thank you so much for printing this Earl. I tried to listen to the program last night but was unable.

Thanks to Jason, Darin, the volunteers at St. Joseph's Hospital and within Treasure Beach for your commitment to such a wonderful and worthy program.

Wishing this program and all involved in it another successful year ahead.

I beg to second that Rebecca. It is so good to know that we have people in our community that is dedicated to help others.
Please, keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless You All.............

We're very proud of you, Aman. Happy New Year to all in your wonderful family. Love, Gwen and Trevor

Happy New Year Gwen and Trevor.

Davis Family

Aman is the man. I would trust him with my life without question. I am proud to call him my friend.

Big up, Aman!