Daily Times

Journalists reporting from tribal areas were offered a two-day first aid training course to equip them with basic life-saving techniques and skills.

The course was organised to assure a proactive provision of first aid to victims during natural and man-made disasters.

About 22 journalists hailing from North Waziristan, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Bajaur, Mohmand, Peshawar Subdivision and other areas also took part in the training held on March 27 and March 28.

The training was arranged by Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Merged Areas Branch in a local hotel in Peshawar.

Participants received information on key relevant topics, including Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); Choking; Fractures; Shock; Transportation; Bandages; Heart Attack and Angina during the training session.

The training was facilitated by First Aid Trainers, Ikramuddin and Hikmat Khan and was held under the PRCS Media and Communication Department.

PRCS Branch Secretary, Saeed Kamal Mehsud, also spoke on the occasion as the chief guest and said that holding first aid training for journalists was the need of the hour.

Whenever any incident took place in merged districts, media persons were said to initially reach the spot and could provide first aid to victims.

After journalists were properly trained, he claimed that they could save the lives of victims by providing first aid on the spot.

Regarding training, he informed that the organisation had been training media for the last seven years and had trained over 100 so far.

He added that the organisation would issue a notification to all district branches to conduct first aid training for journalists across press clubs in merged areas.

Earlier, representatives of PRCS Merged Areas Branch and the International Committee of the Red Cross delivered comprehensive presentations on the mandate and responsibility of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; IFRC; ICRC and PRCS.

Journalists eulogised the organisation for giving first aid training and suggested that female first aid trainers should be appointed at district branches to approach female education institutions and domestic girls. The training would benefit them while using saving life techniques in homes, they commented.

They hoped that the training should be continued in forthcoming time as well.

The chief guest also distributed certificates amongst the participants.