Bengaluru: Nearly 18% of the 3,340 road accidents reported in Bengaluru between January and July 2026 were classified as fatal, highlighting the importance of timely emergency response at accident sites. In trauma, the first 10 minutes – the Platinum 10 Minutes – decide survival. Recognizing the critical role of those who reach an injured person before medical teams arrive, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital (RMH) marked World Trauma Day 2026 by conducting “BE FIRST – Basic Emergency First-aid Integrated Responder Skill Training,” a hands-on programme for over 100+ first responders. Organized under the theme “Building a Safer Future with Trauma Care,” the initiative aimed to equip participants with practical skills to respond safely and appropriately to trauma emergencies.
The first person at an accident site is usually not a doctor, but a policeman or home guard. The programme brought together first responders such as police personnel, traffic police, Red Cross volunteers, NCC cadets, Home Guards, and Fire & Emergency Services personnel to empower them to provide safe medical care at the site before ambulance arrives.
The training covered practical aspects of trauma response – like understanding the nature and mechanism of injuries, immediate bleeding control, splinting and bandaging, handling head injuries, rapid and safe shifting of trauma victims, and safe helmet removal. Through these hands-on sessions, participants gained practical exposure to essential first-response techniques that can help them provide appropriate assistance until professional medical care becomes available.
The programme was graced by Dr. P.R.S. Chetan, Gallantry Shaurya Medal Awardee, Officer Commanding (Head Qtrs. & Ops.) & State Nodal Officer, Civil Defence, Office of the Director General of Police at the Chief Guest, and Dr. Rajesh M.S., MC Member – Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Bengaluru Urban District, and CEO of NABK (National Association for the Blind, Karnataka) as the Guest of Honor, along with senior leadership and medical experts from Ramaiah Memorial Hospital. Dr. Aruna C. Ramesh, HOD & Senior Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, RMH, led the clinical training alongside the hospital’s medical team.
Dr. Madan S. Gaekwad, Chief Operating Officer – Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, said, “Effective trauma care does not begin only when a patient enters the emergency department. It begins at the site of the incident, where the actions taken in the first few minutes can influence the course of care that follows. Through ‘BE FIRST’, we are taking essential emergency-response knowledge beyond the hospital and strengthening preparedness among those who may be first to assist during an emergency. We aim to encourage a more informed and prepared community, where timely action and appropriate assistance can support the patient’s journey to definitive medical care.”
Dr. Aruna C. Ramesh, Senior Consultant & HOD, Department of Emergency Medicine, RMH, said, “In trauma, the response at the scene needs to be both quick and correct. Actions such as controlling bleeding, bandaging an injury, moving a patient safely or removing a helmet appropriately require basic knowledge and practical training. Through this programme, our focus is to give first responders hands-on exposure to these essential skills so that they are better prepared to act safely and effectively until the patient can access definitive medical care.”
Through the initiative, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital aims to strengthen awareness around appropriate first response and reinforce the importance of preparedness as an integral part of the trauma-care pathway.
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