Loss of lives during disaster due to lack of first aid training, Kenya Red Cross trainer says

First aid skills come in handy during times of disasters and emergencies.

by STEPHEN ASTARIKO

North-eastern15 March 2025 - 16:00

In Summary

The beneficiaries were drawn from various sectors including Boda Boda riders, traders, humanitarian workers, community and youth leaders among others.
Kaluma took the trainees through all the steps that are taken throughout the exercise of saving a life.

*Francis Kalama, a trainer from the Kenya Red Cross speaks to the press.*

Many lives are usually lost during disasters because individuals lack the skills to provide timely and effective first aid, Francis Kalama, a trainer from the Kenya Red Cross on Thursday said.

Kalama said that it was important that as many community members are equipped with the first aid skills since they will come in handy during times of disaster.

He spoke at the Kenya Red Cross offices on the sidelines of a one-day training of 60 community members from Garissa who received First Aid training from the organisation.

The beneficiaries were drawn from various sectors including Boda Boda riders, traders, humanitarian workers, community and youth leaders among others.

Kaluma took the trainees through all the steps that are taken throughout the exercise of saving a life.

He said that in a region like North Eastern where emergencies like floods, road accidents and inter-clan clashes turn bloody, having many people with such skills will be of great help to the community.

*Staff and volunteers from the Kenya Red Cross participate in a simulation exercise of an accident at the Garissa Primary School playground.*

He added: “You realiSe that regrettably the casualties are ignorantly mishandled by individuals who lack these very important life-saving skills. What follows is that we end up losing lives that would have ordinarily been saved even before they arrive in hospital,” Kaluma said.

Antony Mwangi, a Boda boda rider who was among those who received the first aid skills lauded the organisation for the initiative saying that for a long time, he was not aware of how to handle an emergency situation that required his assistance but was now well equipped.

“While going about my bodaboda business I have come across many accidents of my colleagues being hit by motorists and left for dead. But with these skills I can assure you that if I come across an accident I will be among the first people to try and save a life with the skills that I have just acquired,” he said.

Ummulkheir Ahmed, a humanitarian aid worker said the training was very necessary since it will help to save lives during emergencies.

“We have learned how to respond and help casualties during accident and occurrence of flood and other disaster,” she said.

Lucia Sila, a trader in Garissa equally appreciated the first-aid skills that she learned during the training.

“I didn't know that as a first aider, I have to check a person's breathing as I look for chest movement, listen for breath sounds, and do the necessary help before calling for an emergency. These are things I didn't know,” she said.

She urged the Kenya Red Cross to train more people to help in life-saving during emergencies.

Daud Ahmed the Garissa branch Kenya Red Cross coordinator said that the first aiders were selected from various members of different sectors within Garissa town.

He stated the Kenya Red Cross organisation was undertaking a one week community engagement activities in Garissa including Iftar for orphanage centers, Ramadhan football matches and motivational speaking to students to mark 60 years of service to humanity.

“Disasters such as fire outbreaks, floods and road accidents are a common occurrence and when they occur we must have first aiders who will attend to these victims. The more we have in the community the better in terms of saving lives,” he said.