ICRC trains FRSC for effective first aid delivery in Potiskum, Yobe State

ICRC trains FRSC for effective first aid delivery in Potiskum, Yobe State 

ICRC trains FRSC for effective first aid delivery in Potiskum, Yobe State 

By Babayo Wakili

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has trained members of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Potiskum Unit, Yobe State, for effective first aid assistant to victims of accident. The three days training took place at the ICT unit of the new School of Business complex, Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum.

Speaking at the occasion,Potiskum Unit sector commander,Audu Idi said,the aim of the training is to equipt members of the FRSC with an effective approach of rendering first aid assistance to victims. He stressed that, the FRSC has three tiers: the Regular Marshals, the Special Marshals and the NYSC FRSC Club. The tiers are bagged by the Nigerian constitution,with right to render cassistance to victims of an accident,in order to save lives. He also requested ICRC to help FRSC Potiskum Unit with first aid materials. Commander Idi urged marshals to use the knowledge gained for the benefit of Yobe State and the nation. 

The ICRC team was led by Samaila Garba, who is a specialist in health and Godfrey Shuaibu. Other members are Abdulmalik Haruna Abdullahi,a specialist in protection and Musa Yahaya, who is a communication expert.

The team leader, Samaila stated that, ICRC has approved three days training for members of the FRSC Potiskum Unit the request by the corps in order to update their knowledge and skills for better assistance to victims of accident. He disclosed that the Red Cross is always willing to give free assistance and support to any group willing to help the community. He revealed that the Red Cross is happy to help FRSC considering its role for assisting victims in Yobe. 

Also speaking, the communication officer, Musa Yahaya traced the historical background of the Red Cross to 1859, when a Swiss businessman Henry Dunant, travelling in Italy witnessed the mass killings after the battle of Solferino. In his account of what he has seen entitled "" A Memory of Solferino"",he put two proposals aimed at improving assistance to war victims . The first proposal was to set up in peacetime, in each country or nation, groups of volunteers ready to take care of casualties in war time. The second, to get countries to agree or accept the idea of protecting aid workers and wounded on the battdlefield.

Fortunately, the first proposal saw the successful establishment of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, which at present there are not less than 190 countries recognized by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. The second proposal, however, set the stage for drafting of the four Geneva conventions of1949,which are today accepted by all states worldwide. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) usually cares for people affected by armed conflict and violence. It also provide psychosocial support for displaced person's and the affected communities. It equally offer surgical and orthopedic services for weapon- wounded and relevant emergency cases.ICRC focused its protection on three main areas: protection in detention, restoring family links and protection of the civilian population. 

The training has covered the brief history of ICRC, mission and mandate of the ICRC, the Red Cross movement, the fundamental principles and the ICRC  in action.Specific key first aid areas ranging from the understanding of the concept of first aid, safety and security, recovery position, shock, signs of shock, spine board, logroll and full body examination were trained, explained and demonstrated. Other areas are bleeding,gunshot,burns,bite and sting, fracture,signs of fracture, transportation of casualties and triage among others. 

The ICRC boss in Yobe, Mammadu Abba Mohammadu from Mali, came to the training venue from Gashu'a on his way back to Damaturu, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the training and the Calibre of the participants. He stated that, ICRC is impartial and they give assistance based on need to whoever that deserves it. It is a voluntary organization with no profit . Mohammed stated that ICRC adopts the principle of neutrality when rendering free humanitarian assistance all over the world.He disclosed that ICRC will continue to assist whenever the need arises.

The Dupty provost, FCE Potiskum, pastor Joseph, Olorumolu. who is a member of the Special Marshals, appealed to the ICRC to assist the college with similar training and other first aid materials for the college to benefit.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, the unit commander of the special marshals in Potiskum, Malam Mohammed Bello Hong thanked the Red Cross for taking time to offer the training, assuring that members will put the knowledge gained from the training in proper use.

Highlight of the training was the distribution of first aid kits to the 25 participants. The aim of the gesture by ICRC is to help save lives and give better first aid assistance to victims in the state.