44 Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers across Fiji are now better equipped to respond to emergencies on the country’s roads after successfully completing a free two-day First Aid and CPR training programme delivered by the Fiji Red Cross Society.
The programme equipped drivers with essential knowledge and practical skills to respond to medical emergencies and road accidents.
As PSV drivers spend much of their time on the road, they can often be among the first people to arrive at the scene of a road accident.
The training aims to give drivers the confidence and skills to provide immediate assistance, reduce panic and help stabilise casualties while waiting for professional emergency medical services to arrive.
One of the participants, Penina Temo, says she had always wanted to learn First Aid and CPR but had never had the opportunity.
She says she was on her way to work with her husband when he told her about the free training being offered by the Red Cross.
Reflecting on the two-day training, Temo says the knowledge and skills she gained would be valuable both on the road and at home.
She says the training has helped her better understand how to respond correctly and use the necessary skills to prevent further chaos at an accident scene before professional help arrives.
The training was held simultaneously in Suva and Lautoka as part of activities marking World First Aid Day, with 19 PSV drivers participating in Suva and 25 in Lautoka.
The Fiji Red Cross Society covered the full cost of the programme, including training materials, facilitation and certification, allowing the drivers to participate at no cost.
First Aid and CPR training of this nature normally comes at a cost, and many PSV drivers had never previously had the opportunity to access such training.
Participants completed theoretical and practical sessions covering accident scene management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), choking and the control of severe bleeding.
Those who successfully completed the training were awarded certificates.
