More Than 100 Nairobi Golf Caddies Trained as First Responders in Safety Initiative by The Nairobi Hospital and Brookside Dairies
By Editorial Team
NAIROBI, Kenya — More than 100 golf caddies from leading golf clubs across Nairobi have graduated with Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Responder certification after completing a month-long training programme by The Nairobi Hospital in partnership with Brookside Dairies.
The initiative aims to strengthen emergency preparedness across Nairobi’s golfing community by equipping caddies with life-saving skills that enable them to respond quickly before professional medical teams arrive.
During the training, participants learned how to recognise medical emergencies, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), respond to choking incidents, control severe bleeding, assess emergency scenes, use automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and provide other critical first aid interventions.
Because caddies accompany golfers throughout every round, organisers said they are often the first people in a position to respond when a medical emergency occurs. Their training is expected to improve the safety of players, club members and staff by ensuring immediate assistance is available during the crucial first minutes of an emergency.
The Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Felix Osano, said the programme reflects the hospital’s long-standing commitment to extending quality healthcare beyond hospital walls through preventive health and community preparedness.
“For more than seven decades, The Nairobi Hospital has cared for patients at the most critical moments of their lives,” Osano said.
“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.
Founded in 1954, The Nairobi Hospital said it has expanded its focus from delivering clinical excellence to promoting prevention, public health education and emergency preparedness in communities.
The training was conducted by clinicians from the hospital through a combination of classroom lessons and practical simulations designed to prepare participants for real-life emergencies.
Brookside Dairies said the partnership reflects its commitment to supporting healthier and safer communities.
Linda Atieno, General Manager for Marketing at Brookside Dairies, said empowering caddies with first responder skills will strengthen emergency response capacity at golf clubs across the city.
“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.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, hospital leaders noted that community emergency preparedness complements investments in quality healthcare by ensuring trained responders can provide immediate assistance before specialised medical care arrives.
The Nairobi Hospital said it plans to continue partnering with organisations that share its commitment to preventive healthcare and emergency preparedness, with the goal of building safer and more resilient communities.
