Have you ever found yourself helpless in a medical emergency when a simple first aid treatment could have made all the difference?

This was the situation for Loraine Chepkirui, a Red Cross volunteer during the 2007-2008 post-election violence.

She had no first aid training at the time, and watching helplessly as people lost their lives when they had a chance of survival because they had no first aid sparked her interest in becoming a Red Cross first aid volunteer.

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"I came on board to get the necessary skills to be able to give first aid in case of an emergency. The photographic images of the post-election violence in 2008 stayed with me," said Ms Chepkirui.

"I was young and I still remember the horrific scenes of people losing their lives because we were not able to provide the necessary assistance at the time. In a disaster, quick response always saves lives, that is why I am here for the training," she said.

Chepkirui was among others at the Kenya Red Cross compound in Nakuru who had come for a three-day training on first aid and disaster management.
From fire drills to administering first aid, a mix of the old and young Responds team came to learn.

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Milka Chepkirui travelled from Bomet County to Nakuru to attend the annual Red Cross training, not because of any life experience, but simply to quench her thirst for more knowledge about disaster response.

For her, it is an opportunity to add to what she has learnt in school as a graduate in disaster management.

"I love being a responder and offering my help whenever tragedy strikes. I see it as a calling. It's my passion, so whenever I get a chance to learn more skills through training, I jump at it," Milka said.

According to Milka, Bomet County has some of the best divers in the region.
"I would like to see this spread to other counties. I am happy that Nakuru Red Cross is thinking of training divers to rescue people from lakes and rivers," she says.

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu, the Nakuru County Red Cross branch coordinator, Elizabeth Achieng, says that after the first aid training, the next plan of action is to train Nakuru County divers in first aid so that they can properly attend to people they rescue from the water.

"First aid is a life skill that everyone should have. In disasters like drowning, not all the people rescued are fatalities. Some are still alive and a quick response of first aid given in the right way can save lives," says Achieng'.

"These gentlemen who carry out rescues along the Ndarugo River are first class divers, but what to do after the rescue becomes a challenge. This is why we will be conducting a training session for the divers at the Nakuru Red Cross offices," she said.

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Echoing her sentiments on the need for everyone to learn first aid, Patrick Kabue, a fire and first aid trainer, says minor incidents that happen at home can cost lives. Having the basics of what to do in case of an accident.

"I would advise people to embrace this life skill. Some people have the response equipment like fire extinguishers in their homes and offices, but they don't have the know-how to use them. These are the basic things in life that people need to know," says Kabue.

Wanjirukinuthia20@gamil.com

Post-election violence and a thirst for knowledge inspired us to learn First Aid at Kenya Red Cross

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