Major Push to Introduce First Aid Lessons and Emergency Response in Kenyan Schools.
Trans Nzoia County has called for the integration of disaster preparedness and emergency response training into the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum to enhance the acquisition of life-saving skills among learners across all levels of education.
The proposal was advanced by the Trans Nzoia County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Tourism, Eliud Tormoi, during a First Aid and Emergency Response Drills Competition organized by the Kenya Red Cross Society, Trans Nzoia Branch, at Equip College in Kitale.
Tormoi stated that incorporating emergency response training into the education curriculum would ensure that learners acquire the capacity to respond effectively to emergencies before professional responders arrive at the scene.
According to the county official, emergencies occur without prior warning and require immediate intervention by individuals present at the scene.
“Competency-Based Education needs to entrench emergency response skills in its curriculum at all levels. If we train our young people early, we are building a generation that can respond quickly, assist effectively, and save lives,” Tormoi stated.
The county executive further noted that educational institutions play a critical role in building disaster-aware communities and strengthening preparedness at the grassroots level. He called for continuous training and upskilling of emergency response teams and emphasized the need for responders to adopt modern technologies and equipment used in first aid and emergency management.
Tormoi also urged increased investment in training institutions across the country to strengthen national preparedness and emergency response capacity.
The call was supported by the Trans Nzoia County Executive Committee Member for Education and Vocational Training, Janerose Muthama, who emphasized the importance of equipping learners in schools and vocational training institutions with first aid and emergency response competencies.
“At any moment, a learner may be the first responder before medical teams arrive. That responsibility requires proper training and preparedness,” Muthama stated.
The First Aid and Emergency Response Drills Competition focused on practical emergency scenarios, including fire incidents, road traffic accidents, drowning cases, and fall-related emergencies. Organizers indicated that the exercise was designed to strengthen participants’ capacity to provide immediate assistance and improve survival outcomes before victims reach health facilities.
Participating institutions in the competition included:
- Cherangany Nursing Home
- Crystal Cottage Hospital
- Galilee Hospital
- St Monica Girls
- Legacy School
- Equip College
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The Kenya Red Cross Society, Trans Nzoia Branch, noted that the competition forms part of a structured emergency response training programme conducted through progressive levels of competition. The programme advances from county-level contests to regional and national competitions, providing participating teams with opportunities to strengthen emergency preparedness, first aid proficiency, and coordinated response capabilities.
The proposal to incorporate first aid and emergency response training into the Competency-Based Education curriculum forms part of broader efforts aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness, strengthening community resilience, and building emergency response capacity among learners and institutions across the country.
Major Push to Introduce First Aid Lessons and Emergency Response in Kenyan Schools.
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