Taxi drivers in Paro are now equipped with basic knowledge and skills to provide first aid services during emergencies. Since they are often the first ones on the scene during accidents, members of Taxi Association of Bhutan volunteered to be members of Bhutan Red Cross Society (BRCS) and pledged to render help at the time of emergencies.
55 taxi drivers attended the non-medical first aid training and an induction programme yesterday.
Taxi drivers in Paro share incidents of not being able to provide help during accidents in the past due to lack of skills.
“We have helped many victims during accidents. However, during such time we don’t have any training and skills on how to help injured and unconscious people. So when we heard about BRCS, we approached them and requested for training. Last year around 26 of us were provided with the basic first aid training,” Dorji Wangdi, the Tshogpa of the Taxi Association, said.
“With the help of this basic training, we can not only ensure our own safety but also help those victims in need of first aid service. It also provides us with the opportunity to assist victims in controlling bleeding and tend to their wounds,” Sonam Dorji, one of the taxi drivers, said.
The taxi drivers will also be given basic disaster management training in the future. There are around 2,084 registered volunteers with Bhutan Red Cross Society today.
