MARGAO: In an attempt to encourage community involvement and the dissemination of the correct procedure as emergency responders, Varca villagers recently participated in a training programme on how to respond to emergencies in the village, including accidents, health-related situations, and extreme climate events.
Local panchayat members and the general public attended the day-long training that was jointly provided by the EMRI Green Health Services, the village-based palliative care team, and the Varca panchayat. A number of first aid protocols and emergency response procedures were emphasised in the Community Based Emergency Responder Training. The ideal time to send a patient to the hospital following an injury is during what trainers referred to as the “golden hour”.
They also discussed the specifics of the 2016 Good Samaritan Law, which aided in first responder protection. According to the legislation, a first responder is not required to divulge their identity. No hospital has the right to refuse emergency care, no matter how much it costs. The trainer added, “As a first responder, the person cannot be held accountable for the financial payment of the patient’s treatment.”
When volunteering to be first responders, attendees were advised to remember the three Ps – preserve life, prevent
condition worsening, and promote recovery with appropriate first aid.
They were also exhorted to prioritise their personal safety before the safety of the individual in need of assistance, bystanders, and finally themselves.
“It was a very good initiative, the first of its kind in the Varca village panchayat. The response was very good, and the entire programme was very informative. The villagers of Varca were educated to handle emergency situations like accidental cases, medical cases, environmental incidents, etc,” said Varca Sarpanch, Salesiana Fernandes.
“There was a theory part to it, and practical demonstrations were given to each and every participant, and at the end, certificates were issued by GVK on successful completion of the course. Special thanks to GVK and the palliative care team,” the Sarpanch said.
