LUMS Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is determined to work for the benefit of the LUMS community and has been organizing various workshops to this effect. After conducting first aid workshops for the freshmen batch and the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) Lab Assistants, the Training and Development Department of LUMS EMS organized a first of its kind ‘Janitorial First Aid Workshop’.
The initiative was met by enthusiasm from the General Manager and Supervisor of MBM, the company providing janitorial services at LUMS, who spontaneously agreed to the idea and helped in communicating the plan to the entire staff.
The workshop started off with an elaborate briefing on basic what-not-to-dos in an emergency with emphasis on personal safety and protection in medical and traumatic emergency situations. The janitorial staff showed a keen interest in the session, which turned out to be highly interactive with them asking questions and reflecting eagerness to eliminate their doubts and faulty first aid techniques. The lectures focused on basic understanding of vital signs such as skin colour, temperature, breathing sounds and treatment for internal as well as external hemorrhage. First aid for burns, heat emergencies and poisoning was also communicated and a question and answer session was held after the lectures.
The janitorial staff appreciated the workshop and participated very enthusiastically, which made the initiative a success. The training department at LUMS EMS plans to launch similar initiatives in future in helping to build a safer community.