NEW: Zimbabwe commemorates World First Aid Day

The Sunday Mail

Online Reporter

The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World First Aid Day today.

The commemorations were held at Red Cross High School in Kambuzuma, Harare.

This year’s theme for the day is: “Be a hero at school and in your community.”

Said ZRCS secretary-general Mr Elias Hwenga:

“First aid is a fundamental skill that can provide effective and rapid interventions to help reduce injury and suffering and improve the chances of survival of someone in need; it is an act of humanitarian empowerment and a key component of a wider resilience approach.”

“As ZRCS we strongly believe that the inclusion of first aid in the school curriculum should promote contextually relevant educational programmes according to children’s intellectual, social and behavioural abilities.”

According to Mr Hwenga, the First Aid Day concept this year was centered around a typical school day for a child, either remote or face-to-face, allowing them to grasp the concept of first aid and prevention, and to notice the hazards that may put them at risk, either road safety or danger tracking at home.

The Red Crescent Movement is the world’s leading first aid trainer and provider for more than 100 years, hence the efforts by Red Cross High School to educate students regarding first aid, so that they develop knowledge and skills in a broad range of topics including bleeding, burns, choking, diarrhoea, seizures among others.