Multiple community awareness sessions were conducted on the topic of “Disaster Related First-Aid and Life Saving Protocols”. Four of these sessions were done for communities in the Ayagama, Deraniyagala and Aranyaka divisions with the coordination of their respective Pradeshiya Sabhas andbDivisional Secretariats. The participants included people that were affected by the cyclone, Ditwah, as these areas are disaster prone and were majorly affected when the devastating cyclone took place. Furthermore, the resource persons who conducted the workshops were contacted from the Kegalle and Ratnapura branches of the Sri Lanka Red Cross and Red Crescent Society.
The aim of these workshops was to empower and prepare people to safely and confidently respond to any injuries in the event of a disaster. Accordingly, all sessions followed a discussion style wherein they were able to openly address their concerns and ask questions from the resource person. By the end of each session the participants were educated on the basics of first-aid and did drills on life saving first-aid protocols such as performing CPR, tying a bleeding wound, carrying an injured person etc.
The involvement of the local government institutions was vital for this initiative, as they assisted in gathering the participants, contacting the resource persons, arranging the hall and refreshments as well as other logistical requirements. In addition to providing life-saving knowledge to communities, programs such as these are paramount in strengthening the tie between the local councils and the communities they represent. From the council’s perspective, it helps them to dissect first-hand the requirements of the average-community member. Through discussions and questions asked throughout the session, the council members will gain a deeper understanding on how to uplift their community and therefore, strengthen the role of their institution. Furthermore, from the participant’s perspective, they will have more trust in their local institutions, as it shows that they have the resources and networks to serve people better.
This program was facilitated by the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities (FSLGA) under a Direct Aid Program by the Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka.
