Oman

Swift first-aid essential to prevent casualties in schools

 
Swift first aid is essential in schools to prevent injuries from escalating in the event of an accident or any such adverse situation, stated medical experts from the Oman Society of Emergency Medicine (OSEM).

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), every year, more than 350,000 people suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and only 10 per cent of them survive. Here comes the need to train the community members in CPR and first aid to make them able to save lives.

Whether it's a minor injury or something more serious like a fracture, preventing further complications is of paramount importance, and schools need to be well-equipped to handle the situation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the first aid lesson for the students of Ahmad bin Majid Private School, experts added that children in all schools need to be trained in providing first aid to empower them against any eventualities.

'Such first aid sessions and presence of trained first aiders within a school will help the school become safe for everyone as empathy and safety go hand in hand,' Dr Suad al Bulushi, Emergency Medicine Consultant and Director of OSEM said.

'Children spend most of their time in schools learning and playing. Young students are vulnerable to injuries and illness. This makes first aid care and CPR vital for students, teachers and school staff,' he said, adding that the teachers and other school personnel can provide prompt first aid care in the absence of health professionals.

Students and staff can act as first aid volunteers. Keeping this in mind, the PE Department of ABM conducted an in-house workshop earlier this year, equipping staff with basic first-aid training. The school also has a First Aid Club to empower them utilise skills to contribute to ABM's safe environment.

The students said that the workshop conducted by the OSEM instructors was extremely helpful.

Students were able to realise how they could help their peers in an emergency situation.

'My father is a doctor and has always encouraged me to learn more about first aid, so I think it's a priority to take first aid training,' said Raneem Saad Said al Juma of Grade 11D.

Faisal Abdulrazeq al Abri of Grade 10 A was confident after the training as he said, 'I can now help my classmates if they get injured on the field or my siblings at home.'

'We at OSEM are happy to create awareness in public and especially in school, which will raise awareness on first-aid and CPR training to increase survival,' said Jawahir al Wardi, instructor.

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