Zoomlion Foundation has joined forces with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Emergency Unit, National Ambulance Service, and Road Safety Management Services Limited (RSML) to launch the "Keep Your Mind on the Road" campaign.

Supported by the Ghana Police Service MMTD and the Ghana Education Service, the initiative aims to train and sensitize 10,000 beneficiaries in the Adentan Municipality of Accra.

The inaugural training session, held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at the Nii Sowa Din Memorial Cluster of Schools in Nmai Dzorn, gathered over 3,000 schoolchildren, teachers, and parents.

Participants from five schools within the cluster—Sowa Din Kindergarten, Sowa Din Primary 1, Sowa Din Primary 2, Sowa Din JHS 1, and Sowa Din JHS 2—along with key community stakeholders, attended the event.

Dr. Henry Bulley, Clinical Coordinator for the Emergency Service Department at Korle Bu Hospital, led an eight-member medical team to conduct the training. He emphasized the critical role of emergency response education in saving lives during accidents and disasters.

Dr. Bulley highlighted common issues affecting emergency response in Ghana, such as delayed assistance, incorrect actions, lack of basic first aid skills, inadequate communication, and unfamiliarity with emergency response resources.

Using dummy body parts, charts, and role plays, Dr. Serwaa Quao demonstrated essential skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid procedures, handling convulsions, and treating burns. Both students and teachers practised these skills hands-on.

The Deputy Director of the National Ambulance Services, Dr. Felicia Freeman, and her team of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) facilitated a session on emergency communication and response.

They demonstrated their services using a national ambulance vehicle and educated attendees on how to call for emergency assistance using the National Ambulance shortcode 193.

Theodore Aplerku, Business Development Manager of RSML, stressed the importance of educating schoolchildren on basic road regulations, especially with the new dual road constructed in front of the school.

He highlighted the necessity of this education to prevent accidents and save lives.

Patience Basintale, Adentan Municipal School Health Education Program Coordinator, shared key takeaways from the training.

She emphasised the correct treatment for burns and cuts, advising against using chemicals and promoting the use of running water before seeking hospital care.

Zoomlion Foundation Coordinator, Mr. Thomas Narh Korley, expressed satisfaction with the turnout. "This life-saving skills training will reach all schools in Nmai Dzorn to protect the lives of students and parents," he said.

He acknowledged the urgent need for the training following incidents of schoolchildren being hit by vehicles on the new dual carriageway.

Mr. Korley also mentioned ongoing efforts to collaborate with stakeholders like the Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Highway Authority to address overspeeding and enhance road safety.