RAFIF ESLEEM

Gaza- At least 10 people are injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip every hour. Since the health system in the city of Gaza has already collapsed, medical teams cannot provide health service to the most of the injured people and this causes civilians to help the injured people; however, the wrong medical intervention mostly leads to the deaths of the injured people.

‘First aid saves lives’

Many ambulances have been destroyed in the ongoing Israeli bombardment, said Yusra Hasballah, a health worker and volunteer at the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). “There are some undestroyed ambulances but they are insufficient to reach all injured people. Some parts of the city are ‘red zones’, making the ambulances impossible to reach the injured people. Passersby try to help the injured people; however, they do not know anything about the essential rules of first aid. Everyone in the city must receive first aid training to prevent deaths.”

Yusra Hasballah stressed the importance of first aid courses in the city. “Knowing the essential rules of first aid is important because people are injured in the ongoing attacks on the city so that medical intervention can be practiced without transferring the people suffering from not serious injuries to a hospital. First aid saves lives. If everyone knows the rules of first aid, they will know how to stop the bleeding.”

‘Raising awareness is important to save lives’

Speaking about the consequences of wrong medical interventions, she said, “They may cause complications that require surgical intervention. However, the city suffers from the inadequacy of operating rooms. I have been a health worker for years and I know how raising awareness is important to save lives. I do my best to tell the displaced people in shelter centers and schools how first aid is important and the consequences of wrong medical interventions.”

‘Everyone in Gaza is at risk of being injured’

People in the Gaza Strip are interested in learning the essential rules of first aid because, “everyone in Gaza is at risk of being injured at any moment,” Yusra Hasballah said. “Everyone in Gaza must learn the essential rules of first aid. If they learn these rules, they can help their family members and neighbors when they are injured.”