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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Members of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has commenced campaign against road accidents in Bayelsa State, calling on indigenes of communities along major highways to help reduce deaths of accident victims by quick live-saving response.
The NAS, in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Red Cross Society, offered preliminary training to the indigenes of the indigenes of the Tombia-Amassoma road in Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw local government on the wherewithal to be first responders to road crash incidents.
In his opening remarks, the Capoon of Oxbow Marino Deck, Mr Ebi Ayerite, said the campaign is part of the efforts of the National Association of SeaDogs (NAD) to assist in curbing the menace of vehicular road crashes, especially during the festive ember month.
He said the NAS also offer preliminary training to arm the various community along major highways on the tactics and knowledge in handling rescue and first aid response to accident victims.
The event was attended by stakeholders as the Tombia community leaders, residents and indigenes; a high-powered delegation of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) led by the Bayelsa State FRSC Sector Commander; representatives of the Nigeria Red Cross Society; and members of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) (NAS PC) – the conveners.
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.
He also assured road users in the state of the readiness of the FRSC to reduce to the barest minimum, the incidences of road crashes, admonishing participants to promote the culture of safe and healthy road usage especially during the festive periods.
He also announced that an ambulance unit is deployed to the Ekpetiama Roundabout 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.
There was no better way to drive the points home than through hands-on demonstration using a dummy, and human volunteers, as well as citing real life cases.
In his closing remarks, Engr. Timothy Egbonoje, First Mate of the Oxbow Marino Deck, reminded attendees that health and safety are everyone’s prerogative, charging all to take responsibility and be one another’s brothers’ keepers.
