Life Each day , someone around the region is at risk of dying needlessly, due to ignorance or lack of awareness of simple health treatments and first aid.
It is a startling but simple truth. And it is one that is growing worse with each year, especially in some of the more remote and outlying areas of the emirate.
Now an Abu Dhabi based first aid support company is calling on people and organisations throughout the region to become more aware of the dangers of ignoring basics like CPR and first aid treatments which could save lives every day both at home and in the work place.
First Support Business Services provides a professional, up-to-date service of CPR and Basic First Aid courses to the community and workplace, especially in outlying areas.
Marianna James, director of First Support Business Services and a registered nurse, argues that these are proven safe, simple and cost-effective ways to save lives in an emergency. “Millions of people are hurt or killed from injuries or ill health every year,” she says. According to a recent report, heart attacks accounted for 29 percent of all deaths in Dubai in 2007 – and another study has revealed that one in four heart attack patients Teaching emergency CPR for babies is less than 44 years of age.
“The continuous building of knowledge and skills will further strengthen the selfhelp capacity in the community to cope with day-to-day crisis and disasters. CPR and first aid saves lives and can prevent permanent injuries.
She feels that attending a course will give people the knowledge, skills and confidence to respond effectively in an emergency situation “this can make the difference between life and death, rapid versus prolonged recovery, and temporary versus permanent disability”. Being able to recognise the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke for example, or perhaps when someone is choking. Knowing what to do is very important, says Marianna. “In general, a person’s understanding of what to do in an emergency situation is very limited – and many do not even know the Emergency numbers to call.”
On successful completion of the courses Marianna offers; candidates receive an approved certification card which is internationally recognised and valid for two years. Marianna also recommends an annual refresher course to those that have received medical training in the past, confirming that, “as with anything in life, knowledge and skills will be forgotten if not used every day”.
Marianna says her target audiences are the community and workplace at large, which includes all businesses like construction, and oil and gas. “However, it’s also very important within the leisure and hospitality industries such as hotels, shopping malls, theme parks and educational institutes,” she says. “Anywhere there’s a responsibility to provide care to the general public.
“Of course, most accidents happen at home, and it’s also very important that parents, nannies and maids are trained to deal with some of the everyday accidents that can happen to them.”
She wants to encourage the community as a whole to spread the word on the need to know basic first aid and emergency health treatments. “It could be one of the most important lessons in saving a life,” she says

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption] CPR – Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation – is an essential skill that everyone could usefully learn , Marianna James demonstrating First aid techniques, Teaching emergency CPR for babies


[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 17]