On 3rd and 4th December 2015, EASST partner, the Automobile Club of Moldova together with the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) and hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, organized the ‘First Response to Road Crashes’ workshop in Chisinau within the TRACECA Road Safety II Project.
The goal of the workshop was to enhance the first response knowledge and skills amongst the general population, drivers, car users and pedestrians, to render them capable of providing ‘first response’ immediate assistance to casualties of road crashes, by describing the techniques and actions necessary to be fully prepared for such situations. The two-day workshop was delivered by Mrs. Armine Poghosyan, the TRACECA First Aid expert, and Head of the First Aid Department at the Armenian Red Cross Society.12 representatives of the National Patrol Inspectorate from different regions of Moldova, including the Transport Surveillance and Road Traffic Unit, Operational Management Unit, Patrol brigades and regiments assembled for the first day of the workshop, while day two brought together the stakeholders concerned with the number of work-related road incidents in the country, specifically those involving public transport fleets and drivers, along with the representatives of NGOs and the media.
A key message of the workshop, was that accidents and medical emergencies can occur anywhere, and at any time on the road, therefore, everybody should have some level of first aid ability and be prepared to assist people involved in an accident. In this regard, the ‘First Response to Road Crashes’ workshop focused on group discussions, demonstrations and simulation activities, designed to teach participants some of technical and leadership skills required in an accident or emergency situation. The workshop attendees were eductated in: · Assessing a casualty of a road crash
· How to assess the safety of a crash scene
· How and who to call for assistance
· Assessing the state of victims and their injuries
· Methods to use to provide immediate assistance to victims; timely, simple and vital interventions such as use of the recovery position, nonsurgical management of wounds, treating burns and removing a helmet
All participants were encouraged to practice the skills acquired during the training, and feedback following the workshop showed that the attendees found it very useful, informative and practical.The aim of the TRACECA Road Safety II project is to reduce road crashes and trauma by building regional and national partnership between stakeholders in the government, civil society and private sectors; as well as by strengthening capacity building through the design and implementation of pilot community-based interventions.
