Considering the fact that on the 5^th of December the whole world celebrated the Volunteer Day, ICC workers decided to devote this month to organize educational and practical training for volunteers of CF “Caritas of Ivano-Frankivsk UGCC” - students of the seminary. During the first meeting there was a survey, where the themes of the following trainings were identified, which will promote their professional training for the care of sick people. Also various life situations were discussed that help to develop sensitivity and sincerity to meet people who need care.

Only on this basis we can transmit the basic knowledge of practical work, and receive the necessary skills. To implement the identified problems in the training of the project four educational and practical training for volunteers were held.

On a positive note, there was a lesson “Measurement of the vital indicators of the human body”, during which the volunteers gained the knowledge and skills in measuring blood pressure, pulse and holding glucometer. The main thing for every social worker is to be able to provide their high quality services that warn the emergence and development of chronic diseases.

In the same educational spirit there was a training “Methods of executing of subcutaneous injection. Ways and methods of drug supply by internal and external use”. The trainer insisted on preparing the workplace to perform manipulation and preparation of the patient and ill person for the procedure. It is encouraging that the volunteers with great pleasure reproduced the technique and sequence of injections in phantom, and examined the ways of medicine supply for lying-patients, wrong method of which can lead to mechanical asphyxia.

An interesting and informative training was “Features of displacements of seriously ill people during care, and use of aids”. Volunteers under the guidance of the trainer demonstrated the technique of collecting and dismantling wheelchair, learned the types of walkers, armrests. Special attention was given to cooperation between a guardian and a person with special needs : a certain algorithm for both dubbing and continuous movements of a guardian in relation to the patient, prevention of injuries both of the guardian and the patient, the use of different techniques and techniques of movement using improvised tools. During the lesson the volunteers had the opportunity to reproduce the technique of moving on a wheelchair to go upstairs.

Another useful training “Therapeutic exercise as a method of prevention of degenerative disc disease” was based in Caritas. Trainer demonstrated a set of exercises aimed to prevent and eliminate this disease. The stress was given to the importance of the use of exercise therapy for people who for a long time stay in bed, because it leads to joint stiffness and muscle atrophy. A guardian takes responsibility for mutual exercises, and that allows the patient to feel lean attitude, as to a normal person.

Realizing the problem of care, volunteers wanted to continue their education through the future educational and practical training that will enhance their preparation of taking care of sick people. At the same time thanks to trainings they know their capabilities and abilities to transfer their skills to specific situations better.

And at the end of a busy month workers of ICC held another workshop for the sick, elderly people of ophthalmic branch of CMH on “Use of physiotherapy facilities for treatment and prevention of chronic diseases”. Patients were familiarized with the apparatus of “Dune” and “Bioptron” used in various eye diseases, especially in the postoperative period. Also different types of applicators “Blob” were demonstrated, application methods and their impact and effectiveness of treatment. Participants wished to continue to learn the use of physical therapy drugs with the ability to use them at home. There was an agreement to meet at Caritas to transfer vehicles for temporary use.

This month was an interesting and positive and we hope that holding training lessons for volunteers and guardians, and dissemination of guidance materials for the proper care will facilitate and improve the quality of their work in general and will improve the lives of needy, seriously ill and the infirm people.