From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Worried about the carnage at the Tombia- Amassoma road in Bayelsa state, members of the National Association of Seadogs, NAS/PC, Ox- Bow Marino Deck ( Bayelsa chapter) have commenced a campaign to halt road mishap along that section of the road.
NAS/PC in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Red Cross Society at a Town Hall meeting in Tombia community with the theme “Intervention against Tombia-Ammassoma road Mishap” offered preliminary training to the indigenes of the indigenes of the community on the skills as first responders to save lives of victims of road crash.
The Capoon of Oxbow Marino Deck, Mr Ebi Ayerite, explained that the campaign is part of the efforts of the organisation to assist in curbing the menace of vehicular road crashes, especially during the ember month.
According to him NAS also offered preliminary training to arm the various communities along major highways on the tactics and knowledge in handling rescue and first aid response to accident victims.
In his remark, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Mathew Egbe announced that the FRSC is set to embark on visits to all hospitals within and around the Tombia-Amassoma axes to remind them of the constitutional obligation they owe road crash victims brought to their hospitals, to first treat and save their lives rather than begin with making administrative demands that pose further risks to the timely survival of the victims.
While assuring road users in the state of the readiness of the FRSC to reduce to the barest minimum, the incidences of road crashes, he admonished participants to promote the culture of safe and healthy road usage especially during the festive periods.
He also disclosed that an ambulance unit has been deployed to the Ekpetiama Roundabout to save victims of road accidents noting and that the town hall meeting initiated by NAS will be replicated nationwide as a life-saving initiative for road users.
Representatives of the Red Cross Society and the Branch Secretary, Ozobo Job Emmanuel, educated the participants on basic first aid and emergency response techniques to road crash incidents.
Amongst areas covered were how to handle cases of fainting, convulsion, fractures, deployment of chest compression technique, recovery position, etc.