Universities are vibrant and densely populated environments where medical emergencies, accidents, and sudden health incidents can occur at any time. Road accidents, cardiac events, falls, laboratory incidents, sports injuries, fires, and natural disasters require immediate and informed response during the critical first few minutes, often before professional medical help arrives.
Lack of first aid knowledge and delayed response can significantly increase injury severity, complications, and loss of life. Recognizing this gap, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Punjab Provincial Branch, under the Governor’s Initiative “Youth for Humanity”, is actively strengthening first aid capacity and emergency preparedness within university campuses across Punjab.
This initiative transforms students and faculty into trained first responders, capable of saving lives and reducing the impact of emergencies.
Objectives of the Initiative
- Build life-saving first aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) skills among university communities.
- Establish organized campus-level emergency response mechanisms.
- Reduce response time during medical emergencies and disasters.
- Promote a culture of safety, preparedness, and humanitarian responsibility.
Key Interventions
- First Aid Training Programme
PRCS Punjab is conducting structured First Aid and BLS training programmes in collaboration with universities to ensure wide coverage and sustainability.
Key activities include:
- Conducting Training of Trainers (ToTs) for selected faculty members and senior students to create in-house training capacity.
- Establishment of Departmental Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) comprising trained student and faculty volunteers.
- Training a minimum target of 25 First Aid volunteers per department to ensure adequate emergency coverage across campuses.
- These trained responders act as the first line of support during emergencies until professional medical services arrive.
- Learning Materials & Continuous Capacity Building
To ensure sustained preparedness and skill retention, PRCS Punjab is implementing continuous learning mechanisms, including:
- Development and distribution of First Aid Guides and Brochures specifically tailored for university environments.
- Conducting refresher training sessions every six months to reinforce skills and update knowledge.
- Practical simulations and drills to enhance real-time emergency response readiness.
- Integration of first aid awareness into student orientation and campus safety programmes.
Campus Emergency Preparedness
Through this initiative, universities are being transformed into safer and more resilient spaces, with:
- Clearly identified and trained emergency responders in each department.
- Improved coordination between university administration, PRCS, and local emergency services.
- Increased confidence among students and staff to respond calmly and effectively during emergencies.
Impact & Outcomes
- Thousands of students and faculty trained in First Aid and BLS.
- Functional Emergency Response Teams established at departmental levels.
- Reduced severity of injuries due to timely and appropriate first aid.
- Enhanced campus readiness for medical emergencies and disaster situations.
- Strengthened humanitarian values and leadership among youth.
Sustainability
By institutionalizing first aid training within universities and building internal training capacity, PRCS Punjab is ensuring long-term emergency preparedness. Trained students and faculty continue to serve as life-savers and safety ambassadors, extending the impact of this initiative beyond campus boundaries.