Decade of action for road safety

May 11, 2011 marks the launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020). This campaign will include an impressive number of events which will take place in more than 70 countries. Medical Teams International and its Emergency Medical Services will be very involved in these activities.

In September, our volunteers presented a one-week First Responder Training course in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Mr. Vibol, deputy director of a referral hospital arranged for the First Responder Training course for himself and approximately 40 of his staff.

On the way back home from the training, he witnessed a traffic accident between a taxi car and a motorbike. The rider on the motorbike was injured and a crowd of people had gathered around her. They were only standing by watching and police were trying to help.

When Mr. Vibol arrived at the scene, he quickly took control of the situation focusing on safety at the scene of the accident by directing the police to control the crowd of people and to stop traffic.

Next, Mr. Vibol started to assess the victim. He asked a policeman to hold the patient’s head while he performed his assessment. He determined that the victim had a facture on her left leg. He improvised a splint using a piece of wood and thick newspaper. Then, he had her transported to the hospital.

Since the training, Mr. Vibol has encouraged his staff to share the information they have learned to other employees at the hospital. This has been multiplying the impact of the initial training and many more people have survived road accidents.