Rickshaw drivers to get tips on first-aid

Auto rickshaw drivers are one of the most important spectators on the streets regarding accident victims. Now the Apollo Hospital in the city has initiated a first-aid training programme for them.

Auto rickshaw drivers can make a huge difference for the survival of an accident victim through their timely intervention by providing immediate medical help.

In the first phase, around 150 drivers are participating from across the city in the training programme, which was formally launched by Vikas Sahai, deputy commissioner of police (traffic).

The unique first aid training programme shall cover aspects such as cardiac resuscitation, stabilisation in case of fractures, basic dressings etc.

This training shall also include distribution of first aid material and a certificate to the participants.

This training session is the first in a row of similar other programmes with drivers as well as the other important groups such as traffic police, shopkeepers etc, said an official release issued by Apollo Hospital here on Thursday.

"Every year, there are more than 3,000 accidents taking place in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar alone. Many of these prove to be fatal because of the lack of immediate treatment. Normally, it has been noticed that the participation from the general public is also dismal because of various apprehensions. Thus, it was felt necessary to train the population on ways to save life through first aid training sessions. It has also become important to make the public at large understand that there is nothing to lose if we help a person in dire need of medical help and that the existing apprehensions are not right. Keeping this in view, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad has initiated the programme," said Alexander Kuruvilla, chief executive officer of Apollo Hospitals.

Speaking on the occasion, DCP Sahai said that on an average 12 to 13 persons die alone in Ahmedabad every month owing to road accidents and 75 per cent of the deaths are caused due to delay in providing proper medical care immediately. He talked about the Golden Hour - an hour immediately after an accident.

During this period if an accident victim is provided with appropriate medical treatment, the chances of his survival increase manifold. And emphasising the importance of first aid, he congratulated the Apollo Hospital team for having come forward with their training programme.

However, Sahai did not mention what prevents cops to take action against errant auto-rickshaw drivers, who are considered a menace in Ahmedabad due to their wayward driving.