‘Apathbandhu’ A training program for rural volunteers in first aid & emergency care

‘APATHBANDHU’, a training program in first aid & emergency care was organized for rural volunteers from Permude, Kuthethoor, Delanthabettu & nearby villages of Surathkal by Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences, Institution Innovation Council Nitte DU, NU-MEDISIM and Dept. of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, KSHEMA on 21st & 22nd February 2023. The program was sponsored by MRPL-ONGC, Mangalore.

The chief guest was Shri M Shyamprasad Kamath, Executive Director, MRPL-ONGC and guest of honour was Shri Sudarsan M S, Chief Manager of Health, Safety & Environment at MRPL-ONGC. Dr. Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, Vice Chancellor Nitte University presided over the event and stated that the university is devoted to offering effective and efficient services in the field of healthcare and education.

'APATHBANDHU' is one of such unique and aspirational initiatives of the University to offer hands-on training and develop skills of rural volunteers in first aid and emergency care. The guests from MRPL-ONGC along with the Vice-Chancellor distributed training kits to the trainees. Dr. G Srinikethan, Director (Technical Research) & President - IIC, Nitte DU, Shri. Rajendra Acharya, Manager, MRPL-ONGC, Ms. Anjali, Engineer, MRPL, Dr. Sripada Mehandale, HoD Anesthesiology & Critical Care and Dr. Gayathri Bhat, Professor of Anesthesiology, KSHEMA were present during the program. Dr. Neeta Kamath, Program Coordinator of NUINS welcomed the guests, dignitaries and the gathering and briefed about the program. Dr. Sabitha Nayak, Vice Principal NUINS proposed the vote of thanks. The program was compered by Ms. Jeevitha Alva.

22 rural volunteers were trained in first-aid and emergency care. They were briefed about hand hygiene, vital signs, wound dressing, bandaging & restraining, cardio pulmonary resuscitation, management of poisonous bite, hemorrhage control, trauma care – cervical spine stabilization, shifting & transfer, management of foreign body aspiration, management of burns and convulsion. All the sessions were taught by the expert trainers of NUINS.