50 PERCENT OF ROAD ACCIDENT DEATH LINKS TO LACK OF PROMPT ATTENTION BY PASSERBY

The Commander pointed out that 50% of accident victims could be saved if immediate assistance is given during the incident, adding that failure of the people to assist accident victims is a legal problem rather a moral issue.

‘People refrained from intervening in an emergency situation due to legal provision because law enforcement agencies and hospitals needs to build more confidence in general public for helping accident victims and people should not be forced to bear the initial cost of treatment for us to save more lives, we are looking forward on getting a good Samaritan law in Nigeria to assist accident victims without any intimidation or molestations.

Penpushing further reports that, he noted that the purpose of the National Rescue Summit was to promote humanitarian work by adding value to life, adding that the organisation organised the summit to engage governments top level regulatory bodies, executive and other stakeholders to jointly find lasting solution to the problem of abandoning accident victims on roads by the people around.

“We have  been making continuous efforts to address carnage on our roads, environments and to serve as advocacy group for safety conscious among road users as well as to render humanitarian services in Nigeria to  complement the efforts of the FRSC and other emergency providers in Nigeria.”

“Most people refrained from rushing victim to hospital due to fear of being question by the police and sometimes people are also asked to pay medical bill in the hospital, we want to prevent injury and death on our roads’

‘So, its about the good will of Nigerians citizens willing to help dying and injured innocent road accident victims without fear of harassment, because road crashes happened frequently with painful experience in Nigeria and we are losing innocent accident victims on daily basis due to lack of prompt attention among Nigerians particularly, where there is no government emergency service provider on ground.”

The Oyo State Director, National Orientation Agency, (NOA), Mrs Dolapo Dosumuin her remarks  pointed out that people should not leave everything for government alone to do, but always be our brothers keepers, and have sympathy for anyone in needs of help.

“Instead of helping victim, people will started taking pictures of accident victims and posting them on social media, we should care about ourselves, our challenges and our welfare, let us always be our brother keepers, you have the responsibilities to ensure that your brother is well.”

“Nigeria should know that it is only when there is no report from the police, and no clue to how the incident happened, and then it became suspicious, it is not as if you rescue someone, automatically you are in trouble, hospital and care provider should first take care of accident victims before probing questions of how it happened.”

Penpushing also reports that, the Zonal Coordinator of National Emergency Agency (NEMA) Southwest, Slaku Lugard,  said that bad attitude of the people towards rescuing accident victims is not the best, noting that Nigerians should always help to save life, and posting on social media is not the best because by doing this, the person may die.

“People has misconstrue NEMA as an agency that only gives relief materials, we have three set of disaster management which are preparedness, response, and litigation, NEMA has been trying to sensitize people, partner with other security agencies to help the people to know what to do, so that life can be save, everybody should be involved and do our little bit to reduce disaster and reduce disasters.”

The Oyo State Sector Commander RS 11.3, Ibadan, Winifred Chuckwura, said Nigerians should learn how to give a helping hand to the needed in the highways, ‘because FRSC in their own wisdom has provided opportunity to those rescuing accident victims without been intimidated’.

“We have help areas across the country so that good citizen who want to rescue accident victims can do, there is a special marshal unit and this unit assist us in doing rescue and other things, we have qualify doctors and nurses that are on ground to ensure that people who are victim are not rejected and the rescuer are not intimidated or molested.”

“Call on our toll free line where ever you notice any accident and help will come immediately from anywhere in Nigeria, we are embarking on sensitization program for the people to be aware of the need to save life, FRSC is ready to reduce accident during ember period.”