David Nii Addy, a Class 5 pupil of Bishop’s Mixed Primary School, practising a CPR procedure during the training. Looking on is Alhassan Mohammed Mashud (standing right), Head of Special Operations, National Ambulance Serivce. Picture: ELVIS NII NOI DOWUONA

120 Students undergo emergency service training

Juliet Akyaa Safo & Linda Sah Education May - 23 - 2023 , 11:10 3 minutes read

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has trained about 200 students in Basic Life Support techniques in commemoration of World Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Day.

The techniques included resuscitating an unconscious person by assessing the scene, checking their breathing, calling the emergency line 112 for an ambulance and performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

The students, who were drawn from the Bishop’s Mixed School, were also educated on equipment used in ambulances and how medical officers handle emergencies on a regular day.

EMS Day

The celebration, themed: “Where emergency care begins”, was held in Accra yesterday to create awareness of the role of emergency medical service practitioners in saving lives, as well as recognise their contributions and hard work.

The annual event also provided an opportunity for the public to be educated on the magnitude of the work of EMS and the instrumental role of its personnel towards national development.

The Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations at the National Ambulance Service, Simmons Yussif Kewura, said EMS personnel included emergency medical technicians, paramedics, fire fighters and law enforcement officers, acting within the course of their professions.

He explained that the personnel provided urgent pre-hospital treatment, stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transporting them to definitive care.

“Whether an accident, a national emergency or a terrorist act, the EMS works quickly and efficiently to save lives,” he stated.

He noted that the Bishop’s Mixed School was selected as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

“We chose to mark the Day with the schoolchildren to demonstrate to them the basic EMS since they can learn fast and teach their parents and friends on what to do when there’s a medical emergency or cardiac failure,” he added.

Mr Kewura pointed out that the event was the first of its kind in the country, although it had been celebrated worldwide over the years.

He stated that his outfit would celebrate the Day across the country next year to intensify awareness of basic EMS practices.

He also hinted that there would be a week-long event next month to recognise the work of hardworking medical personnel.

The deputy director, however, urged the media to disseminate messages of EMS in the country to help educate the public on Basic Life Support Techniques.

Ambulance Service

The Head of the Ridge Ambulance Station, Nathaniel Essoun Amoah, said the establishment of the Ambulance Service was as a result of the May 9 Disaster at the Accra Sports Stadium where about 129 people lost their lives in 2001.

“The government saw the need to put up an emergency response services to contain such eventualities,” he said.

He said the NAS was established in 2004 with seven stations in Accra, Kumasi and Eastern Region, adding that currently, there are 297 ambulance stations across the country and 16 dispatch centres.

In view of the celebration, he said the training was necessary to expose children on what to do when they encountered someone in cardiac arrest or any form of medical emergencies.

He added that the children were also introduced to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) — a device used to revive a person experiencing cardiac arrest - and how to use it.