KHAR: The Pakistan Red Crescent Society on Wednesday initiated a programme to hold first aid and school safety training sessions in government educational institutions in Bajaur Agency.

Talking to media persons here, an official of PRCS, Fata chapter, said the scheme was initiated in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to produce ‘first aider in every home in the agency’.

The official said basic techniques and knowledge about the first aider would be imparted to students of educational institutions during the training sessions. He said the first training session was held at government high school Barkholozo in Mamond tehsil where dozens of students learned about the role of first aider.

The PRCS official said various basics of first aider were imparted to students, including managing an emergency, communication and casualty care, how to control bleeding, burns and scalds, choking, eye injuries, fainting, fractures, and treatment of an unconscious casualty.

The official mentioned that first aider training was essential to educate students to offer fundamental assistance to a victim before shifting him/her to hospital.

The official said the main objective of the training programme was to have a first aider in every home in the agency to provide basic medical assistance to a victim. The PRCS official hoped that a trained first aider in every home could make a big difference in saving lives in emergencies.

According to the official, several teams comprising first aide specialists and dozens of volunteers were taking part in the training programme.

He said that a school safety programme had also been launched in the agency to educate students about the basics of safety and security in any emergency situation.

Published in Dawn September 22nd, 2016