PREMEDICAL CARE: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW FOR DRIVERS AND OTHERS

In a commentary to Zaborona Inna Olifirenko, director of the International Charitable Foundation “Assistance to Victims of Road Accidents”, spoke about the importance of premedical care skills for drivers and other citizens.

The Law of Ukraine “On Road Traffic” obliges all drivers to have practical skills in providing premedical care and to assist it to victims of roads accidents. Drivers periodically must undergo appropriate training under programs, approved by the government.

 

According to the director of the Foundation, today, too little attention is paid to medical training in driving schools, only 12 hours of theoretical knowledge. However, at least 48 hours of intensive training and practical classes are needed to acquire basic skills.

 

“According to statistics, victims of car accidents most often die due to significant blood loss and respiratory failure before the ambulance arrives,” said Inna Olifirenko. “Usually, people either don’t know how to properly apply a tourniquet to stop bleeding immediately at the scene of an accident or don’t know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. During the training, we provide theoretical and practical knowledge approved by the Ministry of Health: we teach how to stop massive bleeding in an adult and a child, and we practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills on a special mannequin.”

During the war, premedical care skills are important not only for drivers, but also for other citizens. In particular, as part of its educational activities, the Foundation launched the We Know and Act online platform, where representatives of educational institutions can master theoretical part of premedical care.

In addition, as part of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Foundation and the Communal Institution “Kherson City Center for Professional Development of Teaching Staff” and Department of Education of Kherson City Council, about 300 teachers of the Kherson region received knowledge of premedical care.

Let us remind you, that the International Charitable Foundation “Assistance to Victims of Road Accidents” has been working in the field of road safety in Ukraine for more than 15 years. The main aim of the Foundation is to organize various projects and events to promote the importance of observing traffic rules and safe behaviour on the roads among the public.

The Foundation is involved in the implementation of state policy and implements its own projects to improve road safety, it co-organises nationwide Road Safety Weeks.

A large part of our educational activities is directed at the younger generation as they are the key to our safe future.

The Foundation implements a number of projects for young people:

  • nationwide unified road safety lessons in educational institutions;
  • thematic educational and training weekend events “Safety Weekend”;
  • workshops on premedical care for children and youth;
  • annual All-Ukraine youth competition of photo and video works.