Like other parts of the globe, the ‘World First Aid Day’ was observed in Pakistan on Saturday to promote the importance of the skill in preventing injuries and saving the precious human lives. Interestingly, this year’s theme was ‘First Aid for All’ but none of the 418 schools of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) across country has first aid facility, though only a few schools have a low-grade dispensary, perhaps as a flaunt, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.
The first aid reduces the impact of deaths and injuries not only in disasters, but also in daily emergencies. It provides an immediate response to an urgent situation, taking life saving measures until professional help arrives. It also meets the physical and psychosocial needs of the affected persons and their families. Previously, first aid was used to be recognised as the domain of medical or para-medical personnel but all the experts are now saying that even a layman must be trained in first aid, because it is effective in saving lives, improving the chances of survival and minimising the consequences of incidents like road mishap and cardiac arrest.
The World First Aid Day, first introduced in 2000, is observed by more than 100 Red Cross Societies around the world by organising events on the second Saturday of September to raise public awareness of how first aid can save lives in everyday and crisis situations. This scribe when contacted the students and their parents about the first aid facilities available in their respective schools, the majority of them complained that the school run by the FDE had nothing to facilitate students in providing medical treatment.
The abovementioned 418 institutions, with over 200,000 students, are functioning in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) at various levels including primary, middle, secondary and high schools besides the degree colleges also conducting masters level classes. The FDE is providing infrastructure at these institutions but have ignored first aid completely. The FDE, claiming to be a promoter of quality education, has no facility to cope with critical situation, if occurred, said Ahad Ahmed a student of 7 grade studying at a model school in Sector G-6/2.
“With no medical provision in the federal schools and colleges, our children have suffered contagious viral diseases, skin problems and dehydration in last few days,” said Ahad’s father, adding that situation was even more critical after dengue fever outbreak. Parents said given day temperature hovering around 30 to 35degree Celsius with a high humidity level, the threat of dehydration along with viral and communicable diseases was greater. “That is why over a half of the every class has viral infections like flu, cough or fever besides skin-related ailments.”
“The other day, my son experienced asthma, a problem which he had never suffered before. And absence of medical facility, his condition worsened,” said Rukhsana Mehmood, a mother of two. Talking to Pakistan Today, Islamabad College for Boys (ICB) Head of Biology Department Samiuddin said basic health facilities were available at most of the FDE schools and colleges, including the first aid provision, but if any student fell seriously ill during academic timings there was no proper set up either to help him at the campus or to shift him to a nearby hospital.
“I have shifted many kids using my own sources when they got fainted,” he said. He rued that fact that the government had provided the facility of 12-seater vehicles to all schools and colleges but the principals did not allow using it.
SAME IS THE CASE AT PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS: The children studying at private schools are facing similar problems. According to the All Pakistan Schools and Colleges Owners’ Association (APSCOA), there are over 710 private schools operating in Islamabad and around 2,100 in Rawalpindi. Talking to Pakistan Today, APSCOA President Malik Abrar said their institutions had limited budget but the schools with good repute and funding had hired the services of medical experts at their campuses but the schools in unprivileged neighbourhoods were not in position to do so.
MOST OF SCHOOLS HAVE NO POST OF DISPENSER: IMCB I-8/3 Principal Ali Ahmed Kharal said although the government sanctioned a post of dispenser but there were many school and colleges where no position had been created so far; therefore, they trained some of the faculty members for purpose. When asked if any student suffered any ailment during study, what procedure was adopted, Kharal said in such condition, the trained teachers provided the first aid. He, however, admitted that there was no dispensary existed in the FDE schools, adding that there was a nominal health fund of Rs 3,000 to 5,000 for the medical of students in campus.
When contacted, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) spokesman Dr Waseem Khawaja said in case of emergency, a well-stocked first aid kit could be a lifesaver. “This kit must be kept at a designated place in homes, offices or at academic institutions. “Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need,” Khawaja suggested. The American Red Cross says every first aid kit must contain antiseptic ointment, blanket, cold pack, disposable gloves, assorted band-aids, adhesive tape, gauze pads, roller gauze, triangular bandage, hand cleaner, plastic bags, scissors, tweezers, a small flashlight and extra batteries, and activated charcoal.
