By Zaki MS
IPOH – If an emergency occurs at school, such as a student experiencing breathing difficulties or fainting, what steps should be taken?
Such situations can be managed more effectively if teachers, as well as students, are equipped with proper basic first aid knowledge.
Therefore, the MK School Partner programme was introduced to provide school students with exposure to and knowledge of first aid.
The programme is carried out in collaboration with the Perak State Education Department (JPN Perak), Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh and several sponsors supporting the initiative.
My Healthcare Services (MK Ambulance) Founder and Director, Mazhar Khadir, said the programme was an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of first aid.
He said the initiative was launched following several incidents at schools and the need to improve knowledge of appropriate emergency response measures.
“Our team, together with an ambulance, visits schools where sessions are conducted through both theoretical and practical training for teachers and students.
“We bring posters on CPR and conduct basic CPR training for students.
“Each session involves approximately 700 students, in addition to 10 MK Ambulance personnel.
“The programme also provides students with an opportunity to learn about the functions of an ambulance, while health screenings are provided for teachers and first aid training is conducted for educators.
“Schools also receive first aid kits free of charge, each worth nearly RM450,” he said.
The programme targets 116 primary and secondary schools in the Kinta district.
To date, more than 20 schools have been visited since the programme began last July.
Mazhar said his organisation plans to expand the programme to the district, state and eventually national levels.
At the same time, MK Ambulance is also open to collaboration with any parties interested in jointly expanding first aid education in schools.
