Accidents: Red Cross recommends first aid training for schools

Accidents: Red Cross recommends first aid training for schools

Mr Bashir Umar, National Training Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross (NRC) Society has called for the establishment of first aid clubs in schools to reduce accidents amongst students.

Umar disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Gombe on Tuesday.

He said that first aid training was a vital life skill, which should be an integral part of the school curriculum.
According to him, first aid training in schools will help to reduce the rate of accidents in schools.

Children, he said, are more likely at high risks of incurring injuries through accidents as a result of the kind of activities children exposed themselves to.

Umar said that first aid could save a life by easing the emergency situation and preventing health conditions from getting worse after children must have been involved in accidents.

Having first aid skills as a pupil, he added, would not only be beneficial in school life but, the entire life of such a person.

“I learnt about first aid knowledge when I was in school under a programme `catch them young’ and it’s still helping me to save a life today,’’ Umar said.

He noted that an adult with first aid skills gained from school training would be an advantage in their home and the society as well.

He advised school managements to provide basic first aid equipment that could be used to respond to emergencies during school hours.

Umar added that the Red Cross was “ready and willing’’ to assist any school to set up grassroots first aid learning by “providing them with the kits at affordable prices and give them free training’’.