First Aid training and learning of life saving techniques will become mandatory for Heavy Commercial Vehicle Drivers including Bus and Trucks from July Next year to get a Driving License or while getting it renewed in the country. The announcement was made by Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highway Secretary Vijay Chhibber while launching a nation-wide programme to impart First aid and life saving techniques training to drivers of Commercial Motor Vehicles to make them the first response and trauma care providers for road accident victims.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in association with the International Road Federation, (IRF) a global body working for safer roads world-wide and Automobile Association of Upper India (AAUI) are jointly organizing this heavy vehicle driver training programme starting from Delhi and NCR Drivers. The main enhancement of First Aid techniques will be to teach drivers to rescue and transfer victims.
While launching the programme , Vijay Chhibber, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), said, “Initially 10,000 heavy vehicle drivers will be trained in first aid, basic life support and rescue systems during the programme. The training will include applying basic measures to clear victim’s airway and control bleeding, clearing any obstructions and draining any fluid from victims mouth, calling emergency services, performing first aid for the victim, safe handling and shifting techniques to avoid further injury to the victim till the emergency medical services reach. Skills to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through chest compressions, maintaining breathing, relieving choking at the accident site and dealing with different kind of bleeding.”
Speaking on the occasion, K Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation (IRF) based in Geneva said, “Untrained people are often frightened to touch casualties – but early intervention can save lives or decrease the impact of injuries, leading to quicker recovery or lesser injuries for the victims. The commercial vehicle drivers will be trained with valuable skills that can help in road crashes, and they are also useful in other accident situations. To start with, Training will be imparted to drivers of the NCR region at Automobile Association of Upper India league with Medical and Trauma Experts team headed by Dr V Gautam, Trauma care surgeon and specialist, UK. It will be later taken to other parts of the country.”
“Accident victims have to wait till the arrival of the first ambulance at the scene of the accident. Given the shortages of ambulances, trained staff, infrastructure, systems and processes for providing emergency response services, the provision of first aid and trauma care to accident victims is often unduly delayed. The result of these delays reflects in higher traffic accident fatality rates in low-income countries. These fatality rates can be reduced if appropriate first aid and trauma care is provided more quickly at the accident site itself.” Added Kapila.