Remarkable new studies have revealed that greater awareness of First Aid techniques are save up to 140,000 lives a year worldwide – approximately the same as the total number of cancer-related deaths.

First Aid is one of several sessions organized by the Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign (SBFEC) with various nurseries, in collaboration with the Mother and Child Care Medical Center, at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. Other sessions covered topics such as Recommended Breastfeeding Techniques and Prevention of Accidents. Upon the successful completion of this training, certificates were awarded to the 70 participants in the workshop.

However, the workshops did not only focus on responding to accidents but actually preventing them in the first place. For example, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has led to thousands of babies dying each year - yet fascinating new studies suggest that the death rate can be reduced by up to 75%, through such simple precautions as making babies sleep on their backs. The medical explanation is that babies younger than six months do not yet have the bodily coordination skills to turn over on their own.

Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, Director of the Executive Committee for the Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign, explained: “Since children cannot read warning labels and are still discovering the world around them, they are a vulnerable age group with the highest risk of accidents. One of the worst fears of any parent is that everyday items that are harmless to adults (such as plastic bags), can be fatal to children - and lead to choking, asphyxiation, poisoning or blunt force trauma. By teaching parents and administrators the necessary safety skills, we are empowering them with the peace of mind of knowing they have the power to save the child’s life - even before reaching the hospital.”

Those who gained life-saving skills at the workshops included supervisors and administrators of government nurseries, club representatives as well as high-ranking officials from the Sharjah Education Council and Social Services departments.

Speaking at the conclusion of the sessions, Dr Al Ghazal remarked: “What makes accident prevention such a tough challenge is that accidents are, by definition, unpredictable. However, just because we cannot predict them does not mean we cannot anticipate them, manage them and ultimately minimize them. Taking care of a child can be overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. Parenthood may be a natural instinct, but it is also a skill that can be taught. With these skills, we have the reassurance of knowing Sharjah is saving lives and minimizing injuries on a daily basis.”