One of the organizational values of the Barzani Charity Foundation is the active participation of all employees in field activities, especially during emergencies that require rapid humanitarian response.
In addition to operating across ten different sectors and implementing a wide range of humanitarian projects serving people in need both inside and outside the Kurdistan Region, the Barzani Charity Foundation places strong emphasis on providing essential professional training, educational programs, and capacity-building initiatives. One of the most important of these initiatives is the “Advanced First Aid Training Course,” which the Foundation is currently working to expand further.
Mehran Haywas Hassan, Head of the Training and Evaluation Unit within the Human Resources Department of the Barzani Charity Foundation, explained that advanced first aid training courses are organized annually for the Foundation’s employees. Speaking about the objectives of these activities, he stated: “The primary goal is to ensure the safety of employees and prepare them for emergency situations, especially since one of the Foundation’s organizational principles is the involvement of all employees, across all levels and positions, in field activities whenever there is a need for humanitarian manpower or during sudden crises.”
Training Delivered by Certified International Expert
As highlighted by the Head of Training and Evaluation, the advanced first aid courses are conducted over two to three days by experienced trainers holding internationally recognized certifications and practical expertise. The training covers the following topics:
Bleeding control, wound care, fractures, insect bites, poisoning, fainting, burns and heat exposure, drowning, foreign objects in the eyes, nose, and ears, suffocation, electric shock, patient and casualty assessment, evacuation techniques, and general first aid procedures.
He further noted that the Foundation has benefited from both local trainers, including Chnar Sami, Frishta Hassan, and Hogr Mohammed, as well as international trainers, all of whom hold international certifications.
Number of Participants in the Training Courses
(From April 12 to May 6 of this year)
Foundation Headquarters, Erbil Office, and Autism Center: 75 employees
Daik Care Complex: 70 employees
Halabja Office: 7 employees
Garmian Representative Office: 10 employees
The same training programs are also being conducted in the offices of Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and Nineveh, while the process is scheduled to begin next week in the Duhok office.
Mehran Hiywas emphasized:
“The Advanced First Aid Training is a comprehensive process that includes all employees. By the end of June this year, 750 employees are expected to complete this training. Similar courses are also being organized for staff working in offices outside the country.”
He added: “These activities are not new. So far, first aid courses have been conducted in 17 shelters and humanitarian development camps, with 1,136 participants benefiting from the training.”
Advanced First Aid Training from the Trainer’s Perspective
Frishta Hassan, an employee in the Health Department and an internationally certified trainer, stressed the global importance of first aid training, stating: “First Aid is one of the most essential life skills because, in many cases, before a doctor or ambulance arrives, a trained individual can save a person’s life.”
Participants in the course acquire the following skills:
Controlling bleeding
Proper treatment of fractures and burns
Setting priorities for assisting casualties during emergencies
Distinguishing between first aid for children and adults
Performing CPR when necessary
Training Methodology
30% theoretical instruction and 70% practical training
Participants receive certificates upon completion
The ultimate goal is to prepare individuals who can remain calm during emergencies, provide life-saving assistance to injured people, and communicate quickly and professionally with hospitals to ensure the safe transfer of victims.
