Car Nicobar: In a move aimed at empowering senior citizens with life-saving skills, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) unit in Car Nicobar has conducted a specialised first-aid training programme for elderly residents of Lapathy village. The initiative, described as a significant step in community-based health empowerment, was met with enthusiastic participation from senior citizens.
The training session was designed to equip older adults to respond effectively during minor emergencies in homes and communities. With many elderly individuals living alone or with limited immediate help, the programme sought to instill confidence and improve their ability to manage medical situations until professional help arrives.
The programme was opened by the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), Sunita Kumari, who emphasised the need to equip the elderly with essential health care knowledge. She noted that empowering seniors with practical first-aid skills can significantly reduce risk, particularly in remote island communities where immediate access to medical facilities may not always be feasible.
Technical instruction was provided by Peter G., a master trainer from the Education Department’s Physical Training and Preventive Social Therapy (PTPST) wing. The hands-on session covered critical areas such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), dressing of wounds, managing burns of various degrees, supporting fractures, and applying basic emergency response techniques.
Participants were allowed to practice the methods under supervision, turning the session into an interactive and highly engaging experience. Many of the elderly attendees expressed appreciation for the training, citing the confidence it gave them in handling injuries, falls, or sudden illnesses in their homes.
The event was also supported at the community level. The Village Captain of Small Lapathy, Jassie, attended the session and lauded the CDPO and ICDS Car Nicobar for addressing the safety and well-being of senior citizens. Village Secretary Onisimus encouraged the elderly to take their newly learned skills seriously and serve as first responders in their households and neighbourhoods.
In island territories like the Nicobar Islands, where natural disasters, power outages, or logistical delays can isolate communities temporarily, the ability of residents to administer first aid is critical. Organisers say that this training is not a one-off, but part of a wider vision to build health preparedness among various age groups, starting with the most vulnerable.
ICDS has indicated plans to continue such skill-building programmes across other villages in Car Nicobar in the coming months. Officials believe that such grassroots capacity-building initiatives not only improve public health outcomes but also promote a culture of self-reliance and proactive caregiving.
