A First Responder might very well be your friend, a colleague, a teacher, or the boss of a business. Anyone can be a First Responder. Now you can also be a Certified First Responder.
The Humanitarian Outreach Initiative (HOI) which was first started in 2013, was established to develop Disaster Medicine & Disaster Management. With an evident increase in the number of natural calamities and also the increased risk of terror attacks, knowledge, preparation and planning, termed disaster preparedness and disaster mitigation has become essential and mandatory for everyone.
On April 28 HOI is officially launching their Certified First Responder Course. The course is for anyone who is first on the scene but may not be transporting patients to the hospital.
Kamakshi Nurani, a representative from HOI, said "We are aiming at social awareness and education. Several natural disaster-related deaths have been happening in the country and we are trying to prevent that as much as possible with the initiative. The First Responder Course aims to teach people how to save lives, such as when you are at the beach and someone is drowning, as a first responder you will be able to save the person's life once you are certified rather than waiting for help to arrive."
Training under the course will include basic First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults and Children. This will include AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) if this technology is available locally.
People who take part in the course will learn how to perform a complete patient assessment, airway control, haemorrhage control, spinal immobilisation, wound care, management of musculoskeletal injuries, management of trauma patients, and the transport of patients utilising necessary equipment (stretcher, spine board, scoop stretcher, etcetera). Skills lab and scenarios will be created to practice the skills learned and ensure proper knowledge and implementation of the new skills acquired.
Managing patients in rural & urban setting, a concept of leadership & decision making as a First Responder, rescue & evacuation, and Psychosocial First Aid will also be addressed. Finally, the participants will have to clear a theory and practical exam, to be certified as a First Responder.
There are no pre-requisites for this course. The course fee is $250 (INR 16,500 approx). This course will be covered over a duration of about 30 hours spread over 3 days. The first course will take place from May 11 to 13 at the Global Headquarters of HOI at Huma Hospital in Anna Salai.
Kamakshi added: "After the first course in May we are also open to conducting further courses at premises where people want us to, such as in colleges or corporates if there are more than 30 people willing to attend it."
