Calling for children across Sri Lanka to learn first aid

10/09/2016 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: On World First Aid Day, the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRCS) is calling for children everywhere to be trained in first aid, and is urging the Sri Lankan Government and the Ministry of Education to make first aid a mandatory part of school curriculums.

Children are particularly susceptible to accidents in their daily lives and are especially at risk during major emergencies, like natural disasters, conflicts and epidemics.  Empowering young people as first aid providers will not just save lives. It will prepare them for a future in which they can be an active and responsible citizen in their local communities.

An estimated one million children die every year from treatable injuries and millions more are hospitalized as a result of accidents like drowning, automobile crashes, falls and burns across the world. And in Sri Lanka alone a child succumbs to injuries from an accident every 15 hours.

The Red Cross is also calling on authorities to ensure that parents and other adults who are in regular and close contact with children are trained in first aid.

“Our goal is to ensure that communities everywhere are prepared to react effectively in times of crisis and to equip as many people as possible with skills that help save lives, regardless of their age,” said Jagath Abeysinghe, the President of SLRCS. “We know that bystanders are often the first on the scene when emergencies occur and are the first critical help in the chain of saving lives and alleviating suffering.”

Meanwhile several activities across Sri Lanka were organized by our branches in order raise awareness on World First Aid day.

In Matara 14 members who completed the NVQ National Certificate as a First Aider received their certificates by the Chairman of the Matara Branch and Vice President 1 of Sri Lanka Red Cross Bharatha Jonikku-Hewa at the branch premises. These first aiders have to undergo a course that contains six months of theory and another six months of practicals. The certificate is issued in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Vocational & Technical Training.

Sri Lanka Red Cross is one of the island’s leading first aid trainers and providers. If any one is interested they can learn first aid by visiting this page – www.redcross.lk/first-aid