Within the confines of the cooperation between IBSSA and KMFAP Prof. George POPPER - President of IBSSA and Lieutenant General of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, F.A.P. visited the headquarters of the Italian First Aid and Rescue Operations Emergency Sanitary Service named "Soccorso Amico" situated in Salerno / ITALY. This Service is member of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, F.A.P. and is one of the most active and equipped team of FEMERAID.

"Soccorso Amico" - the Emergency Sanitary Service has been operating for 34 years and it has a very modern operative headquarters. The Palace - situated on the seaside - is suitable to receive and process any kind of information from all over the world, and it is well equipped to teach first aid of any kind.

The headquarters has an up-to-date conference hall for 200 people, a dining room for 150 people, a large ballroom and numerous lecture rooms. It has its own heliport and seaport as well!

The Founder and since then also the President of "Soccorso Amico" is Sir Dr. Giuseppe SATRIANO - Knight of Malta and well-known surgeon.

After scrutinising the activities of the Emergency Sanitary Service, both parties came to the following understandings:

1. Sir Dr. Giuseppe SATRIANO accepted the Honorary Membership of IBSSA and undertook to be the Chairman of the First Aid Department of IBSSA.
2. Both parties agreed that "Soccorso Amico" - the Emergency Sanitary Service will be also the official IBSSA Training Center with special regard to the following subjects on international level:
   • first aid
   • diving
   • rescuing from water
   • rescuing with helicopter

Of course the facilities of the "Soccorso Amico" provide also great opportunities to any kind of trainings by car, motorcycle or VIP Protection, and also sport activities or Martial Arts.

According to the cooperation between the Emergency Sanitary Service and IBSSA it will be possible to organise IBSSA training courses and international events in Italy on very special, discounted prices; therefore it would be practical that the competent leaders of the affected IBSSA Departments should visit "Soccorso Amico" as soon as possible and get acquainted with the leaders of the Emergency Sanitary Service.

During his visit, Prof. George POPPER met Mr. Attilio INFRANZI and Sir Francesco POLOGRUTO, IBSSA members. The President of IBSSA affirmed that still Sir Francesco POLOGRUTO is the Regional Representative of IBSSA in Torino - Piemonte.

At the meetings and discussions it came into question that - according to the decrees of the IBSSA Congress in Zlin / Czech Republic - in the near future an IBSSA Congress might be organised in Italy. The present IBSSA members suggested that the place of this Congress should be in Salerno, the Palace of "Soccorso Amico" and in line with the Congress different training courses could be organised on this fantastic seaside.

28th June 2006
IBSSA HQ