Delhi Metro gears staff for medical emergencies

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is training its employees to be able to react fast when faced with any medical emergency.

The company has already imparted first-aid training to nearly 5,000 of them, and now with the Commonwealth Games round the corner it wants the bulk of its workforce to be equipped with the basics of life-saving.

“In the past there have been instances where our employees have rushed people to hospitals and helped save lives. We have a comprehensive system wherein emergency alarms inside the coaches can be pressed and the train operators and the station staff can be contacted for help. The train and station staff are familiar with the procedures to follow when handling unwell passengers,” said a Delhi Metro spokesperson.

While a majority of the complaints are related to passengers not feeling well, about 25 calls are made to CATS for more serious cases each month. “All new recruits in DMRC posted at metro stations (both technical and non-technical staff) are given first-aid training by a team of doctors from St. John's Ambulance Brigade. There is a week-long training module for first-aid, which is provided at Delhi Metro's Shastri Park Training Institute,” said the spokesperson.

First-aid training

The first-aid training covers all aspects including the structure and function of the human body, procedures like dressing and bandaging wounds, issues related to circulation of blood, bleeding wounds, haemorrhages, shocks, asphyxia, injuries to bones and burns and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A detailed process

“It is a detailed process where we equip the employees with all necessary aid inputs to help people. The staff has to be ready to deal with exigencies arising out of situations like a fire or a terror attack that can leave people injured,” the spokesperson added.

All metro stations are provided with first-aid boxes and any emergency case brought to the notice of station staff is immediately attended to.

“For those who want further medical attention, the station staff call CATS which takes them to the nearest hospital. The DMRC staff also accompanies the passenger. In most cases, the response time is less then 10 minutes in sending the patient to nearest hospital,” said the spokesperson.