Edito of the Global First Aid Reference Centre Newsletter

“As I’ve been involved in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for 40 years, I realised that I have absorbed all of its principles and it became a part of me. I always wanted to be part of an organisation that relieved the suffering. First aid, as a life-saving measure, was the answer to my questions.

Sometimes taking very simple measures at the right time are more effective than what we can imagine.

My experience as a physician made me realize that lost cases could have survived if the person would have received appropriate first aid.

Some people might think that first aid training is not needed but once a person is in a situation where he or she has the ability to help someone, they will feel its power. People underestimate their potential in saving lives, but it’s very rewarding and makes us more humane.

Currently, my aim is to support National Societies in the Gulf to be in a different and better position in that regards. To achieve this, we had placed first aid at the first phase of our Strategy. We know that spreading first aid knowledge in the community makes people more resilient. We need this because due to the specificity of the region, we can’t always rely on ambulance services, as they are sometimes great distances to reach certain places. This is why first aid education represents a valuable activity to me.

In that way, the Global First Aid Reference Centre (GFARC) is an added value. Thanks to our collaboration, I could introduce important projects such as “the Gulf Medical University Trainers of Trainers and First Aid Trainers programme” (you can read more on this in the “spotlight” of this newsletter). I am very pleased of this cooperation and I count on continuing our partnership in the future.

Moreover, the International first aid, resuscitation and education guidelines and the International First Aid Attestation are a huge step for consolidating first aid education worldwide. It provides accreditation and references based on scientific evidence for first aid. It’s important now more than ever to train people on first aid and spread its aim.

To go beyond, I think that Governments should protect first aid providers in their laws enactment. National Societies should accommodate their trainings to the specificity of each country and to different cultures. The most important thing for the learner is to understand the steps easily, remember them and be able to apply it with confidence.

If I have a last key message to deliver, it would be that everybody can learn first aid because anyone might be at risk anytime.

“Learning first aid begins with you, you are part of this circle, so do not hesitate and start from now”