Bayelsa Students Trained in Emergency Response Skills

FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited and NNPC Limited/FIRST E&P Joint Venture, in collaboration with the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), conducted a two-day training program in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for over 100 secondary school students and teachers from public schools. The training focused on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and other emergency response skills to prepare participants to provide immediate assistance during emergencies before professional medical help arrives.

Paschal Achunine, Executive Director and founder of HEI, emphasized the need to shift the mindset of bystanders from recording emergencies on social media to actively intervening to save lives. He noted that many deaths occur during the pre-hospital stage in Nigeria, and equipping students with these skills could significantly reduce preventable deaths.

Emmanuel Etomi, Executive Director of Corporate Services at FIRST E&P, supported the initiative, highlighting that timely intervention during emergencies is crucial for survival. HEI plans to introduce emergency health education into primary and secondary school curricula in the upcoming academic year.