The scaled work on equipping medical institutions with computed tomography, diagnostic, endovisual and surgical stands, and other modern high-tech equipment is underway in the republic. The measures on improving the efficiency of this equipment are taken concurrently. Teaching people the rules of emergency aid is a priority among other relevant activities.

Such trainings are held by the Red Crescent Society of Uzbekistan for various population groups. The Emergency Aid course grounds on the unique training course, which was developed by the joint efforts of rescue workers and consultants in various countries. It was approved and endorsed by the European Community of the Red Cross and the Crescent and the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan.

“World Health Organization data indicate that, if the first aid is rendered late or wrong, it leads to 20-25% of deaths among severely affected in the first few minutes after an accident, and another 30% die within an hour,” Hamid Karimov, Chairman of Red Crescent Society of Uzbekistan, said. “It often happens that the cutting edge high-tech medical equipment and professionalism of the doctors are powerless just because a patient who has received an injury at work or in a car accident, or suffers from a sudden attack of illness is not provided the necessary aid before the arrival of the doctors.”

The Emergency Aid training course is to break the situation. Experienced specialists of the Red Crescent Society of Uzbekistan not only give classes at the training center of the organization, but also go to residential neighborhoods and big enterprises. The listeners are introduced to the theoretical fundamentals of emergency aid, and work out the skills using special dummies. The course content is a simple algorithm of behavior in various situations that require rendering the first medical aid to victims.

“The experience shows that a person who knows the sequence of actions does not waste time on empty thoughts and panics. The availability of a person knowing the basics of the first medical aid greatly simplifies the work of doctors. Even an unskillful, but in-time cardiac massage can save a life,” according to Hamid Karimov. “We hope our course and the outcomes of the work of emergency aid doctors will improve with the increase of the number of our trainees.” (Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)