Gautam Budh Nagar: Women to get training to act as first responders

The initiative has brought together district officials, teachers, civil defence members, home guards and students for hands-on sessions

GREATER NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar district authorities are pushing a community-led preparedness model that trains residents - especially women - to act as first responders during emergencies, officials said on Wednesday.

A key focus of the programme has been the ‘Aapda Sakhi’ model, which aims to train women from self-help groups to take up lead roles during disasters. (HT Archive)

Officials said recent district-level training initiatives, conducted in collaboration with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are focusing on equipping local communities with life-saving skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS), fire safety and evacuation protocols.

A key focus of the programme has been the ‘Aapda Sakhi’ model, which aims to train women from self-help groups to take up lead roles during disasters. “Women at the grassroots are often the first to respond in emergencies within families and communities. Through structured training, women can transition from being perceived as victims to becoming first responders,” a district official associated with the programme said.

The initiative, being implemented under the guidance of the Uttar Pradesh state disaster management authority, has brought together district officials, teachers, civil defence members, home guards and students for hands-on sessions.

The district’s health officials said that in cases such as cardiac arrest or choking, immediate intervention can save lives.

“Training communities in CPR and basic life support ensures that help is available in the crucial first few minutes before professional responders arrive,” said additional chief medical officer Tikam Kumar, in a statement.

Fire safety and crowd management are also central to the preparedness drive.

Officials said the training is part of a continuing district-level effort to build community responders, particularly among women and self-help groups.