As of January 1^st the whole of Europe will be focused on this country. We have the unique chance to show Bulgaria with its rich history, culture, traditions and its major capital – its people. ‘I would like to thank Chair of the Bulgarian Red Cross /BRC/ Hristo Grigorov for the empathy shown towards this moment, historical for Bulgaria – the EU Presidency, as its success is up to all of us,’ said Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU Lilyana Pavlova at the signing of an agreement with the BRC for volunteers’ first aid training during the rotational presidency.

The training has now been started. Deputy Director General of the BRC and Head of the Social Healthcare Policy with the organization Dr. Nadezhda Todorovska gives us details on it:

‘Following the agreement signed, we will train 100 volunteers, selected under certain criteria. They will have the chance to get pretty well trained in first aid in different accident scenarios. There are challenges everywhere around us that require our reaction. We will provide first aid training in case of bleeding, injuries and bones breaking, alongside artificial ventilation and all those essential things which save the human life over the first few minutes prior to the ER’s arrival and its professional assistance.’

As far as the training programs and any special EU requirements were concerned, Mrs. Todorovska outlined the following:

‘The BRC has been certified with the European Reference Centre for First Aid Education in Paris. The training programs, used for Bulgaria are for driving applicants, employees, mothers and babysitters, primary school teachers… These programs have been officially certified and practically our licenses have been recognized across Europe. On this particular case this is not an EU requirement. The BRC has been constantly increasing its capacity in terms of both programs and training HR. We try to provide the opportunity for the receiving of practical skills by the volunteers. One can find information anywhere these days – correct or not that much, but when the accident occurs, one should know how to react, in order to use the training whenever necessary. This is the goal of the training – correct and adequate reaction besides theory. That is why special attention is paid to practice – people learn how to make bandages and provide first aid. They should be aware of the artificial ventilation technique, also of placing the man injured into a stable sideward position. These are basic things that save lives. We will do our best within 10 training hours to provide the volunteers with maximum knowledge which they can use not only during the Bulgarian EU Presidency, but also within different everyday situations.’

The BRC provides first aid training to more than 80,000 people each year. The organization works closely with traffic police, the fire stations and other institutions with the purpose of providing timely response to challenges – catastrophes, earthquakes, floods… The important thing is a good level of knowledge to be achieved, resulting in quick reactions and in the saving of more human lives.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev