Toll Booth, Petrol Pump and Restaurant Staff to Be Trained in Life-Saving Skills
Every year, thousands of lives are lost in road accidents across India, and one of the major contributing factors is the delay in receiving medical treatment—especially on new national highways that often bypass city limits, making immediate help inaccessible. To address this critical gap, the Association has decided to equip frontline highway staff with life-saving skills.
The organization’s president, Dr. Praveen Suryavanshi, announced that the first pilot project under this initiative will be implemented on the Samruddhi Highway. “Personnel stationed on highways are often the first to reach the site of an accident. With Basic Life Support training, they can stabilize victims and potentially save lives before an ambulance arrives,” he said.
This announcement was made during a press conference held on Monday in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, ahead of Surgeons Week, which will be observed nationwide from June 8 to 15. A series of public health initiatives are planned as part of the week-long event. Present at the press conference were Dr. Rajendra Bora, Dean of MGM Medical College; Dr. Satyajit Pathrikar, President of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Surgical Society; Dr. Mangesh Tandale, Secretary; and senior surgeons Dr. Naveen Kasliwal and Dr. Swaroop Borade.
Throughout Surgeons Week, citizens will benefit from free medical check-ups, health camps, and free surgeries. On June 13, free OPD services will be provided to general patients, while on June 14, over 10,000 surgeons across India will demonstrate their commitment to society by donating blood.
The grand finale of Surgeons Week on June 15 will be held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with the participation of renowned surgeons from across the country. A special training program titled Essential Trauma Life Care Support will be inaugurated on that day to further train trauma center staff in providing rapid and effective care to accident victims. Additionally, a mobile app designed specifically for surgeons will be launched.
Dr. Suryavanshi also highlighted the urgency of the initiative with sobering statistics: “In 2000, the death rate from road accidents was about 20 percent. By 2020, it had increased to 36 percent—a deeply alarming trend. The first few minutes after an accident are critical, and prompt first aid can be the difference between life and death.”
The initiative reflects a broader shift toward community-based emergency response and underlines the growing importance of public participation in saving lives on India's highways.