Red Cross in first aid drive

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
THE Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society is using first aid skills in addressing and reducing gender-based violence in the country.
The society has been conducting first aid skill sessions for corporate organisations and community groups to not only equip them with the skill but to provide insight into the issue of gender-based violence and how it could be reduced through demonstrating first aid on victims. 
With the theme ‘first aid in addressing and reducing gender-based violence’, the initiative aims to use first aaid as a lifesaving skill in protecting lives of people affected by gender-based violence.  
Red Cross general secretary Esmie Sinapa said the skill was one people must have to treat people affected by accidents and violence.
She said this at a first aid introductory session at the Red Cross headquarters, in the National Capital District, yesterday.
Fifteen participants from 10 organisations attended the two-hour session.
They were taught basic first aid skills and how to apply them on victims of accidents and violence.
Topics covered in the session included emergency action plan, side positioning of victim and different types of bandages and how to use them on fractures and bleeding.  
They were taught how to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Participants learnt that when dealing with an unconscious victim it was always important to look, listen and feel for symptoms of life before further treatment was applied. 
They were taught that having a clear air passage was paramount in reviving a person.   
The Red Cross presented first aid kits to the organisations and plans to continue the training with comprehensive training early next year when certificates will be given to participants.
Sinapa said every day accidents and injuries occurred and sometimes led to deaths but “by having simple first
aid skills one can save a life”.