The Fraternity – International Humanitarian Missions (FIHM) was present at the first aid training carried out in the Ayrton Senna Base, in Boa Vista (RR), through its humanitarian servers, María Alida, Aajhmaná, and Chantal. The training took place on the 14th and 15th of January, the request having been made by the Humanitarian Logistics Task Force to the Mobile Emergency Care (SAMU), for the purpose of strengthening the readiness of the teams that are active in shelters.
The training gathered together members of the Humanitarian Logistics Task Force and representatives of humanitarian organizations, besides military personnel of the Brazilian Navy, Air Force and Army. Also present were representatives of the PiriLampos and AVSI organizations, expanding the dialogue and coordination between different humanitarian action fronts in Boa Vista (RR).
Lead by SAMU professionals, between fire fighters, nurses, technicians and members of the local coordination, the workshop included basic content for the initial caretaking in emergency situations, as well as the recognition of cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), choking relief techniques, treatment of fainting spells, seizures, identification of stroke, and hemorrhage control. The focus was to offer practical and accessible guidance focused on making quick and sure decisions in the daily environment of the shelters.
According to Aajhmaná, the training took approximately four hours, and combined theoretical explanations with practical activities. “What was most outstanding was the CPR practices and the guidance on how to act in choking situations, especially with children”, she says. She emphasizes that, considering the available time and the variety of subjects, the training was of an introductory nature, offering a common foundation for people with different levels of previous knowledge.
Knowledge about first aid is essential for acting in emergency situations and in contexts of humanitarian response, where time and clarity of action can save lives. On acquiring practical ideas for recognizing serious situations, carrying out immediate interventions, and deciding when to activate specialized services, the teams expanded their capacity for care and protection of the sheltered people. In environments like the shelters, marked by vulnerabilities, intense flows and unforeseen situations, this preparation contributed toward reducing risks, strengthening the autonomy of the humanitarian agents and ensuring more safe, humanitarian, and responsible responses during critical incidents.
For Aajhmaná, one of the main points of the training was exactly to create a bridge between whoever is directly acting in Operation Welcome and the emergency services. “The idea is that we be able to carry out an initial consultation, a first approach, before the referral to specialized services”, she explains.
During the training, practical criteria for deciding when to activate the SAMU and when to simply carry out the initial consultation were discussed. Situations such as choking, seizures and fainting were detailed using daily examples. Aajhmaná remembers that, in cases of choking, for example, an immediate intervention can be decisive, since the waiting time for an ambulance can be critical. In the case of seizures, parameters for evaluating the seriousness were presented, and the need for emergency care.
Another highlighted point was the 24-hour telephone support offered by SAMU, with direct guidance from health professionals, including doctors, who can help in the decision making while the team is at the location. “This helps a lot in bringing more assurance to whoever is on the front line”, affirms Aajhmaná.
In the end, she rates the experience positively. “It was worth it. It was an important training for whoever works in the shelters and deals daily with unforeseen situations. To have that basic understanding makes the difference at the time of caring for people, especially in humanitarian response situations”, she concludes.
