Bangalore. Every day, 165 children across India lose their lives due to unintentional injuries, many of which stem from road traffic incidents. Alarmingly, 88% of these fatalities occur within a short distance from schools, underscoring the urgent need for trained, immediate response within the community.
To address this issue, Department of Pediatrics and PICU at Aster RV Hospital, JP Nagar Bangalore launched the Active Bleeding Control (ABC) Guru campaign to celebrate Children’s Day in a meaningful way. Shri. Rajanna B, Police Inspector, MICO Layout, Mr. Hanumantha RG, State Head, Karnataka, CMRI Green Health services, Dr. Pramod from the ambulance division of GVK 108, Dr. Chetan MR, Associate Professor, RV College of Nursing, reputed doctors from Aster RV and Staff participated in the program. More than 200 students from various schools who are the future leaders of our country pledged to “Be the help until the help arrives” and become ABC Volunteer and serve the community by saving lives.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sujatha Thyagarajan, Sr. Consultant – Paediatrics & Paediatric Intensive care, Aster RV Hospital said, “Uncontrolled bleeding can cause death before professional help is obtained. Hence there is a need to save lives by stopping this bleed urgently. Active Bleeding Control campaign is a free training program to empower bystanders or lay persons with six essential steps to stop the bleed. Each participant will demonstrate proficiency in the six steps, understand the do's and don'ts and become an ABC Volunteer.
As a Pediatric intensive care specialist, I note that many children lose their lives before they can even reach the hospital. Time and again we notice the injury victims are surrounded by bystanders who are not really sure how to help the victim or hesitant to help fearing police or court, or even worse, end up giving wrong first aid care or taking videos instead of proactively saving the life. This program has implied in them the responsibility to empower our community with the essential bleeding control methods to save a life”.
The ABC program has already seen remarkable success in Hyderabad, where over 1,076 volunteers, including 537 trained students and teachers, have collectively saved more than 163 lives. This impactful approach uses a “multiplier effect,” as students and teachers share their training with families and neighbours, building a dedicated network of over 2,700 active responders ready to assist in times of need.
Hanumanth R G, State Head, Karnataka, EMRI Green health services said, “The program organized by Aster RV Hospital at Shanthiniketan Educational Institutions, BTM Layout emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative: Every second counts during an emergency, and immediate response can be the difference between life and death. The ABC-Guru Program is designed to empower individuals with practical skills to act effectively, ensuring no child’s life is lost due to lack of timely aid. By equipping our communities, we can reduce fatalities and foster a safer environment around our schools and neighbourhoods.” (PR)
