Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Get first aid training in Abu Dhabi for free

The Abu Dhabi Police’s strategy to improve safety standards.

In Abu Dhabi, residents will soon learn first-aid skills that will allow them to help people in emergencies before the ambulance crew arrives. Emiratis and expats may now start signing up for the Abu Dhabi Police’s ’Ambulance Volunteer’ programme, free of cost.

Participants will be trained on how to respond to emergency calls, quickly assess the person’s condition or injury, and provide the appropriate care until the ambulance gets to the site.

"People who would like to register for the programme should be residents of Abu Dhabi; physically fit; and aged above 18," said a police officer.

Implemented by the Directorate of Emergency and Public Safety in the Central Operations Sector, the programme is aligned with the Abu Dhabi Police’s strategy to improve safety standards and continue to develop ambulance services.

For many, learning the right skills and knowing what to do can help people gain the confidence to offer aid during emergencies - especially since a number of UAE residents are hesitant to act on such situations.

Khaleej Times reported earlier this year that one in five people in the country believe that they will be legally responsible if they tried to help an emergency victim, according to a YouGov survey.

However, more than three quarters - or 78 per cent - of them are willing to extend help once the Good Samaritan Law is passed. The UAE will soon become the first Arab country to pass a Good Samaritan Law that allows bystanders to help out in emergencies without fear of legal consequences.

With the Ambulance Volunteer programme in Abu Dhabi, participants will be equipped with first-aid skills and they will also be going through continuous refresher courses, the police officer said.

The training will be in Arabic and English. Those interested in enrolling with the programme may register by logging into the Abu Dhabi Police Registration Portal at https://adpapp.adpolice.gov.ae/amv

In the UAE, volunteering is seen as a culture that is vital in promoting sustainable development and building a better future for the next generations, according to the police.

The government has, in fact, set up many organisations that engage in volunteering activities and community service, including a national volunteering portal that support a host of activities across the country.

Good Samaritan Law in the UAE

> Draft federal law that will allow bystanders to help those in an emergency situation without being held accountable

> Approved by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and has been forwarded to the Cabinet for further action

> States that: "No criminal or civil appeal shall be made to any person who has provided, in good faith, assistance or relief to another person who is in an emergency situation"