Equipped to handle disaster

Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is training women since two years to take up rescue operations in an emergency situation at Srikakulam. The Society trains in disaster management, mitigation and providing first aid in emergency situations.

These training programmes are being conducted in four main categories. In the first category, the trainees are taught disaster mitigation to deal situations during cyclones, fire accidents, earthquakes, etc.

In the second category, the volunteers are trained to give first aid treatment with an aim to save lives during calamities and road accidents.

In the third type IRCS trains women in Social Emergency Responsive Volunteers (SERV) to respond immediately in situations like child marriages, illegal termination of pregnancy, prenatal sex determination tests.

In the final category, training is given for community instructors to provide basic legal aid, health awareness among women in poor and rural localities.

These training activities are aimed to train students who are studying degree and also to women who are eligible for the training. The trainees are awarded certificates and awards after the conclusion of the programmes. A total of 1,224 women have been trained the four categories across the district.

“It is a good sign that students and non-students are coming forward to participate in social service training activities. We will increase our intake in the programmes in future,” IRCS district chairman and secretary, P Jaganmohan Rao and DK Dasu Babu, informed.