The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has called for prompt and appropriate first aid response during emergencies involving migrants and displaced persons, warning that unsafe practices could worsen injuries and put lives at risk.
The Society said basic first aid knowledge remained particularly important for people on the move, who are often exposed to accidents, injuries, illnesses and other emergencies in situations where professional medical assistance may not be immediately available.
The call was made during an event at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) resettlement city in Keffi, Nasarawa State, as part of activities marking the 2026 World First Aid Day.
This year’s commemoration, with the theme, ‘First Aid in Migration Contexts,’ focuses attention on the peculiar vulnerabilities of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons and the need to equip them with practical lifesaving skills.
The Red Cross noted that some displaced persons had over the years relied on unsafe first aid practices, underscoring the importance of providing communities with appropriate knowledge and training to enable them to respond effectively to emergencies.
Speaking at the programme, Head of Training Department of the Nigerian Red Cross Society in the Federal Capital Territory, Ikenna Omenikolo, urged residents of the resettlement city to take necessary precautions during emergencies and administer appropriate first aid whenever required.
He stressed the importance of knowing the correct steps to take before professional medical personnel arrive, particularly in communities where access to immediate healthcare may be limited.
The programme also provided an opportunity for residents to share their experiences of responding to emergencies under difficult circumstances.
Spokesperson of the Keffi resettlement city and a beneficiary of the programme, Mrs Iliyatu Ayuba, recounted how she had assisted people in emergency situations, including pregnant women during childbirth in difficult locations such as farms and bushes.
Her experience highlighted the realities faced by displaced communities and the importance of equipping residents with appropriate first aid skills to respond safely when emergencies occur.
Participants also called for increased support for displaced persons and others living in migration settings, noting that first aid training, while important, must be complemented by improved access to healthcare and other essential services.
The Red Cross said greater awareness, training and preparedness would strengthen the capacity of migrants, refugees and displaced communities to respond appropriately to emergencies.
It stressed that first aid was not intended to replace professional medical treatment but to ensure that the right immediate steps were taken to preserve life, prevent a victim’s condition from worsening and provide assistance until qualified medical personnel became available.