UCT medical students and the Westridge and Portland Health Committee held a community first aid session on Wednesday September 19.
At this session they focused on treating burns, broken bones, seizures, bleeding, asthma at-
tacks, choking and dog bites.
The students took the community through a step-by-step process, explaining what to do at home before one called for
help.
Christolene Beauzac, UCT site facilitator for Mitchell’s Plain said: “The Health Committee initiated that they do a free first aid course for the community as it is essential. The committee reminded us that first aid courses are expensive and costly and a free session would help the community help themselves.”
Nabeelah Gani, fourth year medical student added that the session would help empower the community.
“They now have the responsibility to teach others,” she
said.
Vanessa Meyer, Westridge and Portland Health Committee chairperson said: “The issues we spoke about today helps people like me as most times people do not know what to do.”
But Jocelyn Petersen, secretary of the Westridge and Portland Health Committee, felt there was room to expand the initiative and for government to get involved.
“The government should come alongside us to assist us with programmes like this. We need to broaden this. The issues spoken of today affect children as well, they needed to be here too to learn about how they can help themselves,” she said.