PUNE- Emergencies strike, and strike without a warning. Hence, the need for commoners and paramedics trained in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to administer first aid within the first one hour or rather the first 10 minutes of an accident.

Realising the dearth of people trained in EMS, the Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS) has formed the Symbiosis Health Brigade (SHB) to mitigate casualties.

With the brigade, SIHS plans to create a body of professionals trained in EMS to attend to emergencies in all organisation in the city. “We intend to have at least one ‘first aider’ certified by American Heart Association (AHA), USA, in every department of an organisation, be it big or small,” said SIHS director Dr Rajiv Yeravdekar. He added that organisations should identify people from each department who would be trained as certified ‘first aiders’ by SIHS.

“One needs to remember that ultimately life and limb are not saved with a kit but are saved by people armed with skill and knowledge. Hence it is important to get trained,” said Yeravdekar.

The SIHS is recognised as an International Training Organisation by the AHA. It is also a Chapter of the International Trauma Life Support Organisation, USA.

“SIHS is authorised to conduct and certify training programmes in first-aid . Accredited by international agencies, candidates are awarded certificates and identity cards on successful completion of their training programmes which are recognised and accepted globally,” said Yeravdekar.

Renowned emergency physicians like Prasad Rajhans, Shiva Iyer, L.V. Pillai, Pradip D’Costa , Ursekar, Pinaki Sengupta and others will conduct these training programmes.

Emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, road accidents, burns, choking, drowning etc. are ubiquitous. Availability of EMS-trained personnel often, if not always, determines the effectiveness of medical treatment given later.

“Till date, SIHS has conducted first aid training programmes for several companies , like Persistent Systems, KPIT, Forbes Marshall, Hoganas India, Frankfinn India , DSM Engineering, Pune Police and schools,” he said.

The brigade has received an encouraging response from the CII, MCCI and Agriculture, Top Management Consortium and other such organisations.