The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the City Traffic Police Rawalpindi have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the former will train the city traffic police and Police Response Unit personnel in basic first aid to help themselves and the citizens during emergency situations. The MoU, effective for two years and signed by the PRCS Secretary General Khalid Bin Majeed and Chief Traffic Police (CTO) Rawalpindi Muhammad Bin Ashraf, is part of the PRCS’s program to ensure a first aid trainer in every home. Under the MoU, the PRCS will conduct three-day advance first aid trainings during which 30 CTP trainees would be imparted training and provided with first aid kits where possible. The PRCS Punjab will evaluate the trainees as per certification of first aid. Refresher courses would also be conducted, if requested. The PRCS will also provide umbrellas and jackets and deploy its ambulances at the point specified by the city traffic police to ensure prompt response. First aid posts would also be set up at different locations. The venue of trainings would be arranged by the city traffic police. The city police would be responsible to share with the PRCS the monthly compiled data on any first aid activities and/or first aid provided to any member of squad or public in general. The city traffic police will train the PRCS volunteers in road safety awareness and deploy them in time of need under the ‘Volunteering in Police VIP’ initiative. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PRCS Dr Saeed Elahi said accidents and emergency situations are not completely preventable. “To address the growing risks, we face today due to disasters, emergencies, and accidents, there is a need for providing first aid training to students, youth and the first responders to meet the ever-increasing demand,” he said, adding that the basic first aid training would enable the CTO personnel to treat themselves and the citizens during emergencies. Secretary General Khalid Bin Majeed said the MoU is part of PRCS’s commitment to ensure a first aider at every home to save lives during emergencies. He said the MoU would reassure the residents of Rawalpindi that they won’t be left unattended during emergency situations. CTO Muhammad Bin Ashraf said the training in first aid was a big initiative that would boost the image of the city traffic police personnel in the eye of the people. He said no effort would be spared for the success of the program. PRCS Managing Body members Mian Abdul Rauf and Brig (r) Abdul Hadi were also present.