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, aiming to equip participants with lifesaving abilities to assist victims before professional medical help arrives.

Paschal Achunine, Executive Director and founder of HEI, stated that the initiative seeks to change the behavior of bystanders who often record emergencies instead of intervening. He emphasized the importance of timely intervention, noting that many deaths occur during the pre-hospital stage.

HEI has been active since 2017 in post-crash care, providing financial support for critically injured victims. The training is designed to complement these efforts and has received approval to integrate emergency health education into the school curriculum.