With growing numbers of road accidents every year in the country, the need for basic life support training is very much essential for ambulance drivers whose presence of mind during the early hours of accident could save precious lives, opined Dr K Ravindranath, chairman and managing director of Global Hospital Group.

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to create awareness on basic life support (BLS) training and trauma care to ambulance drivers Global Hospitals organised a two day programme to about 200 drivers from 26-27 at Lakadikapool branch in Hyderabad.

Through this BLS training program Global Hospitals is aiming to sensitize ambulance drivers about the significance of Golden Hour in road accident, cardiac, brain, liver emergency and help them in safe evacuation of the victim.

BLS training helps one provide first-aid to road accident victims or those suffering from choking, drowning, or even a possible heart attack. “Ambulance drivers equipped with basic life support skills offer the best chance of life as it empowers to help stabilize victims at the scene and ensure that injuries are not escalated. Also BLS training helps one exactly know what to do when someone is facing a life and death situation due to injury or illness,” said Dr Ravindranath.

As per official statistics, an approximate 2 million citizens across India are affected due to road accidents, out of which close to one million succumb due to fatal injuries. The total number of deaths due to road accidents increased from 10 per cent to 11 per cent in 2013. When it comes to road traffic accidents, ambulance driver communities in most cases are the first ones to swiftly respond and carry the injured to a nearby hospital.

Just not restricting to sensitising drive among ambulance drivers, the hospital is also planning to come up with more plans in the next few months and extend its activities to others who include traffic police, auto drivers, and cab and call taxi drivers. “In many instances even before an ambulance reaches the accident spot there could be a policeman, auto, cab or call taxi drivers in the area and if we sensitize this community, then many more lives can be saved,” added Ravindranath.

Lack of awareness on immediate responses during the medical emergencies is the major cause of deaths. Many do not know what to do and what not to do during fatalities of road accidents. If proper basic training is given to road users then definitely many lives can be saved. To address those issues, Global Hospitals has taken a novel initiative and is campaigning to raise awareness for swift response during critical medical emergencies.