To ensure the safety of children at Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centres in Gelephu, doctors from Gelephu regional hospital recently trained the facilitators in First Aid. 55 facilitators from eight private ECCD centres attended the one-day training.
The participants received hands-on training on handling basic medical situations, including CPR and choking incidences. They were also taught to respond to drowning, heat stroke, exhaustion and animal bites.
“We taught them how to respond to emergencies with first aid skills and basic life support. Knowing how to perform CPR correctly and understanding the importance of timing can save lives in cases like fainting or temporary heart failure,” said Dr Jigme Yoezer, GDMO, Gelephu Central Regional Referral Hospital.
ECCD centres care for young, curious and active children, often leading to accidents such as trips, falls and accidental ingestions.
Although facilitators work to maintain a safe environment, they say that knowing how to respond swiftly during emergencies is critical.
“In ECCD centres, especially in Gelephu, snake bites are a real risk. It’s crucial to know how to handle such emergencies. I’ve also learned how to respond to dog and cat bites that may occur while commuting,” said Passang Dema, a participant.
“We’ve had emergencies before, but we didn’t know how to handle them. Hospitals are far away, and we lack knowledge. This training will help us respond to accidents promptly,” said Tashi Norbu, a participant.
The Bhutan Early Childhood and Development Association says many facilitators haven’t had the chance to learn basic first aid, leaving them unprepared for emergencies.
“Working with children aged 2 to 5, we often face challenges because young children can’t communicate well and are vulnerable in emergencies. Without proper intervention, these situations can become serious. Recognising the need for preparedness, we organised this training to equip facilitators with vital first aid skills,” said Jamtsho, the President of Bhutan Early Childhood and Development Association.
The Association plans to extend the training across the country.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Sangay Chezom
