Nairobi golf caddies trained as first responders in emergency readiness drive

CEO, The Nairobi Hospital Mr. Felix Osano awarding a caddie.

More than 100 golf caddies from leading clubs across Nairobi have graduated with Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Responder certification in a programme aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness within the golfing community.

The month-long training was conducted by The Nairobi Hospital in partnership with Brookside Dairies and equipped the caddies with skills to respond to medical emergencies before professional help arrives.

The training covered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), choking response, severe bleeding control, emergency scene assessment, airway management and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), among other first aid interventions.

The graduation ceremony was held in Nairobi yesterday.

The initiative is based on the recognition that golf courses bring together people of different ages and health profiles, with players often spending several hours on the course.

In the event of a medical emergency, the time taken before professional medical assistance arrives can significantly influence the outcome.

Caddies accompany golfers throughout their rounds, placing them among the people most likely to be close to a player when an emergency occurs.

By training and certifying them as first responders, the programme has placed a pool of people with life-saving skills on golf courses, enabling them to provide immediate assistance during the critical minutes before emergency medical teams arrive.

The Nairobi Hospital chief executive officer Felix Osano said the programme was part of the hospital’s wider commitment to preventive healthcare, community safety and emergency preparedness.

“For more than seven decades, The Nairobi Hospital has cared for patients at the most critical moments of their lives,” said Osano.

“This programme places life-saving skills in the hands of the people who are first on the scene when an emergency happens on the course. Equipping caddies in this way makes golf safer for players, club members and staff alike,” he added.

The training was conducted by clinicians from The Nairobi Hospital and combined classroom instruction with practical, hands-on simulations to prepare participants to respond effectively to emergencies.

Brookside Dairies general manager for marketing Linda Atieno said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to supporting healthy and active communities.

“At Brookside, we believe healthy and active communities are built on good nutrition and everyday acts of care. Training caddies as first responders gives Nairobi’s golf clubs a team ready to act when an emergency arises, and we are proud to stand behind it,” she said.

The hospital, which was established in 1954, said it would continue working with organisations that share its commitment to preventive health and emergency preparedness.

The initiative highlights the importance of equipping communities with the skills to recognise emergencies early and provide immediate assistance before specialised medical care becomes available.