PRCS to train 100,000 persons in First Aid in next 3 years
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) will train over 100,000 people in the next three years in the First Aid Training.
This was stated by PRCS Chairman Saeed Ahmad Qureshi while addressing the participants of a ceremony held in connection with World First Aid Day at the PRCS National Headquarters on Wednesday. Saeed Qureshi said the PRCS has been a pioneer in the area of First Aid and has been regularly imparting First Aid training through its national
Training & Human Resource Centre at its Headquarters, in Islamabad and Branch Headquarters in all four provinces and AJK. He said that to step up its programme, Pakistan Rod Crescent Society is establishing five more centres in Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, NWFP and AJK while 16 more centres will be set up by 2008.
These trainings are imparted to all segments of society, including communities, volunteers college/school students, industrial workers, corporate sector, international companies, commercial organisations, police etc. The chairman PRCS said training of youth of Pakistani is a very important part of this whole effort because of their voluntary spirit, commitment for well-being of humanity and likely availability for a longer period. Therefore special emphasis is being laid on training of students and First Aid training is being imparted in over 100 institutions every year, he added.
Saeed Qureshi said PRCS had trained some 55,000 people in First Aid and efforts are underway to train more people from all segments of the society in First Aid. Speaking on the occasion, PRCS Secretary General Khalid Kibriya said the purpose of First Aid is to save lives, prevent physical disability and alleviate human suffering by responding to daily emergencies, disasters or conflict situations. He said when people take First Aid training they reduce risk of getting injured, about 40 per cent because they become aware of potential dangers and learn to avoid them.
PRCS First Aid Ambassador Laila Zuberi while addressing the participants of the ceremony said that there is a dire need of First Aid Training to youth as they are the active members of the society and they can save precious lives. A declamation contest was also held among the schools and colleges of twin cities on First Aid Day. Rafia Lodhi of Beacon House, Rawalpindi clinched the first prize,Kalsoom Fatima Hasan of City School, Islamabad secured second and Yashfeen Zafeer of Roots College Islamabad bagged third prize. Later, the participants visited various stalls and were informed about the importance and history of First Aid Day.
Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is planning to impart first aid training among the children of Islamabad Capital Territory’s (ICT) schools within a next few years.
Dr Riaz Ahmed Director First aid Training PRCS in a television interview said there are around 100 schools in ICT.