Özer stressed that first aid training programs are vital for prevention of loss of life in disasters and emergencies.

 

Noting that timely first aid will save lives and fasten the healing process, Özer said, "There is a possibility of injuries and facing situations that threaten life any time at schools, work places, and homes. Awareness about the importance of first aid and training programs is vital."

 

Minister Özer his Ministry aims at maintaining a healthy education and work environment by organizing out first aid training programs adding that, "We have been carrying out our activities in line with leading and innovative first aid training vision."

 

First aid training programs are carried out by 725 first aid trainers in 145 classrooms including 81 provincial directorates of national education and 82 first aid training centers in Anatolian and European sides of İstanbul which are authorized by the Ministry of Health.

 

"45,000 teachers completed first aid training programs as a part of 1000 Schools in Vocational Education Project. 260,000 teachers are still attending first aid training programs within the context of nationwide "Our Children Are Safer with First Aid" project carried out by our Ministry. 119,085 teachers completed two day long applied training programs and received "Turkish Red Crescent First Aid Certificate" which had "Europe First Aid Certificate" accreditation.  As a result, a total of 174,545 ministry personnel become first aiders and they all have the knowledge and skill to respond to possible emergencies at schools. As a part of the 10,000 Schools in Basic Education project, 41,567 teachers attended first aid training programs and 187,746 students and 18,226 parents attended first aid seminars," said Özer. 

 

Teachers working in schools with dormitories, preschool and special education schools will also attend first aid training programs.

 

Özer noted that the goal of his ministry is to give first aid training to 100,000 of its personnel until the end of 2022 adding that, "As of the end of this year, we will increase the number of first aid training programs to 160 and number of first aid trainers to 800. We also aim at giving first aid training to 350 thousand students and 36 thousand parents as a part of 10,000 Schools in Basic Education Project. Our goal for the end of 2023 is to complete the training of 260,000 ministry personnel."

 

He stated that his Ministry and the Red Crescent of Türkiye have completed the preparations for boosting cooperation about first aid training programs. The Ministry has been carrying out joint activities in order to organize inspection, workshops and projects with 35 first aid training centers of the Red Crescent located in 28 different cities of the country.

 

Meanwhile, first aiders who completed their training have successfully responded to emergencies at schools. For instance, a teacher who received a first aid certificate responded to a 12 year old student whose airway was blocked with a candy by using the Heimlich maneuver in Muş.

 

In Gaziantep, first aid teachers have responded in three different incidents and saved their students' lives by using Heimlich maneuver.

 

Teachers who have completed first aid training programs saved lives in different parts of the country.

 

First aid training program includes general first aid information, patient- injured assessment, human body, secondary assessment of injured, insect bites, burns and bleedings etc.