While another typhoon has been forecasted to hit central Vietnam, the women of Thua Thien Hue are taking an active role in ensuring their community is prepared. Women are taking a more active role in disaster response in Thua Thien Hue. In order to support them in this role, over 60 women took part in first aid training to ensure that they can deliver rapid and effective care when responding to natural disasters during the rainy season.

Over 60 female members joined the disaster risk response teams of Hai Duong and Huong Phong communes in June of 2013, adding 5 new female members to each team. These dedicated women took part in the two day training courses organized by SRD for each commune that were organized on October 28-29 and October 30-31, 2013. These communes are located by a lagoon, and must often deal with extreme weather events such as typhoons, extreme winds and flooding.

The first aid training focuses on helping early responders consider the basic practices and principles of first aid, particularly in disaster response situations. Emergencies, injuries and accidents must be dealt with in a way that will minimize any further injury while also reducing the risks faced in a disaster situation. The goal was to help reduce injury during evacuations, and to ensure that first aid was applied properly to those in need.

The interactive seminars engaged all women in practice runs of providing first aid and care. Topics covered included basic rescue, how to protect victims, how to move victims, manage when there is a loss of consciousness, reduce bleeding, and deal with fractures. Other potential issues, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for responding to potential drownings, dealing with animal bites, and transporting victims was also covered. The participants of the workshops practiced the techniques on each other, and also shared their own best practices. They also received practical training from presentations, videos and experienced practitioners.