Over 100 Nairobi Golf Caddies Certified as First Responders in Life-Saving Initiative by The Nairobi Hospital and Brookside Dairie
By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
More than 100 golf caddies from leading golf clubs across Nairobi have graduated with Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Responder certification following a month-long training programme conducted by The Nairobi Hospital in partnership with Brookside Dairies.
The initiative aims to strengthen emergency preparedness within Nairobi’s golfing community by equipping caddies with critical life-saving skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), choking response, severe bleeding control, emergency scene assessment, airway management, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Golf courses host players of all ages and health conditions, making rapid emergency response essential. Since caddies remain with golfers throughout every round, they are often the first people available to respond when a medical emergency occurs. The certification ensures that trained responders are on hand to provide immediate assistance while awaiting professional medical services.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, The Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer Felix Osano said the programme reflects the hospital’s long-standing commitment to advancing community health and safety beyond hospital walls.
“For more than seven decades, The Nairobi Hospital has cared for patients during some of the most critical moments of their lives. By placing life-saving skills in the hands of caddies, we are creating safer golfing environments for players, club members, and staff,” he said.
The training was facilitated by clinicians from The Nairobi Hospital through a combination of classroom learning and practical emergency response simulations, ensuring participants gained both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience.
Brookside Dairies General Manager for Marketing Linda Atieno said the initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to promoting healthy and resilient communities.“At Brookside, we believe healthy communities are built through good nutrition and everyday acts of care. Training caddies as first responders gives Nairobi’s golf clubs an added layer of emergency preparedness, and we are proud to support this initiative,” she said.
The Nairobi Hospital noted that the programme forms part of its broader preventive healthcare strategy, complementing over 70 years of clinical excellence with community education, public awareness, and emergency preparedness initiatives.
The partnership between The Nairobi Hospital and Brookside Dairies is expected to enhance safety standards across Nairobi’s golfing community while empowering caddies with practical skills that could help save lives during medical emergencies.
