The Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS) announced that it has included in its First Aid courses which are provided annually to hundreds of Bahrainis and residents, information about tackling COVID-19 and how to respond to infected cases and the necessary precautions to be adopted. The head of the Society's First Aid committee Kadhem Al Qallaf, said that First Aid now is tinged with caution due to the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, not only for people infected with the virus but also for paramedics who must exercise utmost caution during their interaction with the people who are being treated. Al Qallaf said on the occasion of the International Day of First Aid which falls on September of each year, that the first aid courses provided by the Society include training on handling cases of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, asphyxia and drowning, heart attack, respiratory crisis, bleeding, wounds, and burns, fainting, fractures, shock and choking. "New topics were included to raise awareness of ways of COVID-19 infection spreading and how to tackle them based on the most recent scientific references and recommendations of WHO. Bahrain Red Crescent is the only center accredited in Bahrain by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in training for first aid and conducting the examination for obtaining a paramedic certificate. "A significant number of employees of the Civil Defense Department and private institutes take this exam every month and about 400 paramedics graduate annually. Members of the BRCS are also trained in first aid periodically to renew their licenses, as well as training new members. The number of trainees who are able to obtain a certified paramedic certificate after passing the training courses is about 600 trainees annually," he said. He affirmed that the Society's First Aid committee participates in many national activities, and annually presents about 45 lectures and workshops for various parties. He added that the Bahrain Red Crescent has maintained its work on training Bahrainis and residents on first aid since the 1980s, and this training is often held at the request of companies, institutions and even government agencies wishing to raise the readiness of their employees to deal with emergency accidents and provide the necessary first aid. "This training is provided by about 20 certified trainers who carry out the task of managing and providing first aid courses at the Bahrain Red Crescent, and one course includes 20 training hours distributed over four days, at the end of which an exam is conducted by a doctor specializing in first aid, and the course is divided into two parts, theoretical and practical. It addresses many topics, including burn injuries, fractures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bleeding, fractures, shock and fainting," Al Qallaf added. Al Qallaf said: "Every person's initiative-regardless of his age or status- to master the basics of First Aid is very significant, in a way that contributes to saving himself or others who may be exposed to burns, fractures, suffocation or other accidents that may pose an actual threat to their lives. The increased numbers of traffic accidents, house fires, drowning, suffocation and others urges us all to take the initiative to obtain good knowledge of First Aid." — SG
