COLLEGE EQUIPS BODA BODA RIDERS WITH LIFE-SAVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE SKILLS
The College (KMTC) has concluded a training program for 1,400 boda boda riders across 14 Campuses to enhance their emergency response skills and improve community safety.
Known for their accessibility and swift mobility, boda boda operators often play an important role as first responders during emergencies.
The College designed the training to equip them with essential techniques, including road user safety, infection prevention, bleeding control, helmet removal, airway management, chest compressions, choking response, and splinting techniques.
Riders also gained skills in lifting and carrying methods and managing burns and other injuries effectively.
Speaking about the initiative, KMTC CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch highlighted the significance of empowering boda boda operators.
“This program bridges the gap between emergencies and professional healthcare services, ensuring timely interventions that can save lives,” he said.
To ensure impactful learning, the training combined theoretical and practical methods. Participants were introduced to emergency scenarios through interactive PowerPoint presentations, instructional videos, and hands-on demonstrations.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques were taught using manikins representing adults, children, and infants, allowing riders to practice age-appropriate life-saving interventions.
The sessions also focused on practical improvisation, teaching participants to use readily available items like jackets for controlling bleeding and belts as tourniquets.
Trainers encouraged active participation, with riders performing return demonstrations to reinforce their skills.
“Boda boda operators are the backbone of grassroots emergency response,” said Dr. Oluoch.
KMTC is urging other stakeholders to join hands in replicating such initiatives across the country. With boda boda riders forming a crucial part of Kenya’s emergency response framework, their empowerment is a strategic investment in public health and safety.
