The Australian Mining Firm Base Titanium in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross has embarked on training students and the mining-affected communities on matters of safety and first aid.
The training program has been rolled out in primary schools, secondary, colleges and universities.
Base’s Compliance, Safety and Administration officer Clapaton Nyinge Ngome said the training is part of the company’s commitment to ensuring maximum safety and responsible mining activities.
“The company has structures of safety management and emergency preparedness that are key in our mining operations,” he said.
Ngome said the mineral sand harvesting firm doesn’t take matters of safety lightly and will always maintain high standard practices on safety measures for both workers and the community living around.
He said the mine operations are sensitive and can result in injuries when recklessly handled that’s why safety and emergency preparedness are key within and outside the mine site.
Ngome said the firm strives to impart knowledge and educate the community and school children on how to deal with an emergency through basic first aid skills.
The officer said the skills are crucial for the community to take precautions and quickly respond to a medical emergency in case of accidents around their homes, schools and workplaces.
Some of the first aid skills include adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation, recovery position, bleeding control, choking, secure safety of the scene, and dealing with burns and scalds among others.
Ngome said transferring first aid knowledge to children and the community is vital in saving lives and minimizing the risk of a health emergency from escalating to worse whenever it arises.
First aid is medical attention often applied to an injured or sick person on a short-term treatment to control the situation until full medical treatment is administered.
Ngome said the company is determined to work with various stakeholders and the community in creating awareness on health safety campaigns and pass on first aid skills to both old and upcoming generations to have a well-informed society.
He said the Australian mining firm welcomes the government’s efforts in devolving functions of national disaster management to county levels.
Ngome said the move is a milestone achievement and will strengthen the response to emergency crises and maintain recommendable standards of safety measures at the grassroots level.
The firm’s safety, first aid coordinator and security officer Michael Njenga said since Base Titanium began operations in 2016 it has always prioritized safety measures and equipped workers and the community with first aid skills.
County Red Cross coordinator Mohammed Mwaenzi said they are offering the training continuously since first aid skills keep on changing daily.
“First aid knowledge changes every day, that’s why participants have to go for refresher courses and renew their certificates,” he said.
Mwaenzi said they offer basic, senior and occupational first aid training to the participants in schools, communities and organizations.
He said the program intends to elevate first aid knowledge since first aid is lacking in the community.
Mwaenzi said the level of knowledge about first aid in society is still very poor.
“Below 50 per cent of our people are aware of first aid and know how to apply the skills. That number is very small since the skills change over time,” he said.
Mwaenzi said there is a need for more awareness to educate many people because basic first aid skills are very important in today’s life.
He said the program intends to impact skills to children at a tender age and teach other members of society at home.
Mwaenzi said first aid in schools is important since children are susceptible to injuries while playing in the compound or at home and when emergencies happen they can respond to reduce the risk before a major help arrives.
He made the statement during the region’s first aid competition held at Base Titanium in kwale county.
The competition comprised schools, primary, secondary and university from around the six coastal counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Taita-Taveta, Tana River and Mombasa.
Mwaenzi said the competitions were part of a first-aid awareness campaign.
