JACKIE CASSAGNOL AND WCFR: THE SPIRIT OF NURSES’ WEEK

BY DYLAN SKRILOFF

Jackie Cassagnol’s life changed when Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Cassagnol, a longtime registered nurse currently working as a professor at Dominican College, was training Haitian civilians in first aid and emergency response following the killer quake and one young man told her, “If we knew this then, we could have saved so many lives.”

The words hit Cassagnol both in her heart and head and she realized that lack of knowledge of first aid was costing thousands of lives all over the world. Cassagnol came up with a philosophy; that every man and woman is potentially their own best first responder in an emergency. Cassagnol formed Worldwide Community First Responders, based in Spring Valley, and with the help of supporters and grant money her organization now teaches people all over the United States and Haiti how to react in emergency situations, as well as how to avoid them in the first place.

The group’s mission is “To prevent deaths worldwide through education and training” and their slogan is “Teaching people, saving lives.” Cassagnol is on a mission to leave the world a better place than she found it and that is refreshing. Cheers to Jackie and all the great nurses and medical professionals out there.

Learn more: wcfrworldwide.org.