BY KHADIJAH QASIM KAMILI & SUALIHA ZUBAIR
Awantipora, Kashmir: In a region where access to immediate medical care can sometimes be challenging, knowing how to administer basic first aid is an essential life skill. From road accidents to sudden health crises, individuals often find themselves as first responders before professional help arrives. Experts are urging that the community, especially non-health professionals, be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to administer life-saving care in these crucial moments.
Dr. Iffat Javaid, a healthcare expert at a local hospital, emphasized the importance of this initiative. “It is quite important for non-health professionals to know first aid,” she said. “I believe basic training sessions should be put in place for non-health professionals and commoners. It can provide critical interventions, which may be life-saving in situations such as cardiac arrest.”
Dr. Javaid highlighted that knowing when to approach a healthcare facility can be essential. For emergencies such as strokes or heart attacks, valuable time can be saved if individuals act early. “Reducing the time lost in traveling to a facility could be crucial in cases like myocardial infarction (heart attack) and pulmonary embolism (when a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks a blood vessel). Additionally, it helps health professionals get accurate information about the situation when they arrive,” she added.
In these moments of crisis, basic life skills like CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), tying a tourniquet in case of excessive blood loss, administering adrenaline through an epipen (a device) during an anaphylactic reaction, or the Heimlich maneuver (giving quick thrusts to push air from the lungs and dislodge the object blocking the airway) during choking can make a world of difference. “Such skills can be easily learned,” Dr. Javaid noted. “People can enroll in training sessions or even watch free videos online to familiarize themselves with these techniques.”
Zahida Wali, a nurse from PHC (Primary Health Centre) Kunzer, Tangmarg, echoed these sentiments. “It’s extremely important for the general population to have basic first aid knowledge,” she said. “In many emergency situations, such as heart attacks, strokes, or severe injuries, the first few minutes are crucial. If someone nearby knows how to perform first aid, they can stabilize the patient before first responders arrive.”
Beyond CPR and choking intervention, Wali stressed the importance of learning to handle other common emergencies, such as nosebleeds. “Tilting the head forward and pinching the soft part of the nose can help stop a nosebleed. It’s simple, but knowing not to tilt the head backward is important because that can cause blood to enter the airway,” she explained.
Mental health emergencies also demand attention. Manic episodes, panic attacks, or fainting spells due to overwhelming anxiety are increasingly common. Addressing these situations by helping calm the person, ensuring they are safe, and recognizing signs of fainting or hyperventilation are crucial skills. “Mental health can’t be sidelined in first aid,” Dr. Javaid added. “If someone faints from a panic attack, for instance, placing them in the recovery position and checking their breathing until they regain consciousness is critical.”
Other vital techniques include applying sterile bandages to cover wounds, using pressure to control bleeding, and immobilizing injured limbs in the case of fractures. Recognizing the symptoms of shock and administering first aid to prevent further deterioration is also important. Additionally, understanding how to manage hypothermia(when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing the body temperature to drop) especially in cold climates like Kashmir’s, or how to assist in heatstroke situations during the summer months can make a significant impact on survival.
With growing awareness, the need for basic first aid training in Awantipora and other parts of Kashmir is becoming increasingly clear. Empowering the community with these skills can ensure that even in the most challenging of circumstances, someone can step in to provide immediate care and possibly save a life.
To effectively teach these essential first aid practices to the local community, a series of targeted initiatives can be introduced. Organizing regular seminars and training sessions at educational institutes like schools, colleges, universities; community centers; mosques; and public health facilities could help reach a wide audience. These sessions can be led by local healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or paramedics, who can demonstrate techniques like CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, the tourniquet technique, and the treatment of common injuries. Additionally, collaborating with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and health volunteers can help extend the reach of these programs, especially in remote areas. Digital tools like online workshops and instructional videos in local languages can further enhance accessibility, ensuring that even those who cannot attend in-person sessions are still able to learn and practice these life-saving skills.
As local healthcare experts have suggested, a collective effort toward offering training sessions and encouraging people to familiarize themselves with these critical techniques could make a substantial difference. As more people become equipped with basic knowledge, our localities may soon develop as learned hotspots where everyone plays a part in responding to medical emergencies, bridging the gap between accident and ambulance.
