By: Michael Kofi Kenetey
An Emergency Nurse and a Basic Life Support, BLS Instructor from Pennsylvania, USA now with the Accra’s First American Specialty Medical Centre in the Greater Accra Region, Gifty Dela Tepperh has revealed that lack of awareness during accidents on the road has resulted in the loss of innocent lives in Ghana.
Madam Tepperh explained that most accidents do not result in the loss of lives, however, the lack of awareness about what to do during accidents has resulted in the loss of innocent lives due to the lack of knowledge about Basic Life Support, BLS.
She advised motorists to be calm on the road during this festive season to reduce road accidents. In an interview with the media, she noted that the roads become congested during the festive season, and there is the need for drivers to drive carefully to reach their destination safely.
She gave this advice on what to do in the event of an accident on the road to avoid fatalities.
She stated that anybody can learn how to handle an accident victim such as applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR which can help save a life during a cardiac arrest when the heart stops beating or beats ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs.
Madam Tepperh hinted that a passenger with high blood pressure who feel uneasy due to the driver’s frightening demeanour, can also faint.
In such a situation, one must first check if the individual is breathing, and if not, they must begin CPR until an aid arrives.
Madam Tepperh advised that the National Road Safety Authority, NRSA, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, DVLA, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, GPRTU, and other transport associations and institutions should incorporate Basic Life Support into the system by educating drivers since it will help the public to save lives when there is a road accident.
