Poor emergency response skills hindering accident victims’ survival — Experts

Idowu AbdullahiHealth and safety experts have raised the alarm over the lack of basic emergency response skills among Nigerians, describing it as a critical gap in Nigeria’s health system.This, they said, was contributing to the troubling statistics on accidents and other emergency-related fatalities.The experts, in a joint statement made available to PUNCH Healthwise decried the current approach to providing emergency care from scene to centre, saying the inadequate emergency response skills were increasingly turning emergencies into funerals.

A 2020 study published in the African Journal of Emergency Medicine revealed that over 80% of Nigerians lack basic first aid skills, such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and bleeding control.“Yet in severe trauma, the first five minutes can mean the difference between life and death,” the study added.emergency responseAccording to him, medical emergencies and accidents occur with alarming frequency, yet many citizens are unequipped to respond effectively.



“Whether it’s a person collapsing in a crowd, a child convulsing in a classroom, or a bike rider injured on the road, too often the surrounding public is paralysed by uncertainty, fear, or lack of training.“People film with their phones rather than act. Hospitals turn victims away due to missing documentation.

And lives that could have been saved are tragically lost—not for lack of possibility, but for lack of preparation,” the digital health specialist said.Kolade added it is concerning that cultural helplessness has become normalised.“In moments of crisis, well-meaning citizens often turn to prayer before protocol—not because they don’t care, but because they are confused, afraid, and unprepared,” he stated.

On his part, COO of GET Consortium, Dr. Bobadoye Dotun, explained that this dangerous gap is not a reflection of indifference, but of the system’s failure to prepare people for crisis.According to him, this widespread inability to respond is not rooted in apathy, but in a profound gap—of knowledge, of access, and of systemic infrastructure.

“While other parts of the world have emergency protocols ingrained into daily life, Nigeria continues to struggle with an unstructured Emergency Medical Services system. Most cities lack centralised EMS services. Where emergency hotlines do exist, many citizens are unaware of them, or simply don’t trust them,” he said.

The biosafety specialist, however, stressed the urgency of shifting national culture from reaction to preparation.“We can no longer afford to wait for ambulances that never arrive. We can’t keep turning emergencies into funerals because the people present don’t know what to do.

Emergency preparedness must no longer be the privilege of the trained few—it must become a nationwide responsibility,” Dotun said.He also called for policy reforms and investment in changing the narratives across the country.“It’s easy to blame the government for the inadequacies of the system.

Certainly, there’s a dire need for policy reform and substantial investment in EMS infrastructure. But real change must go beyond that. It demands public-private collaboration, a re-education of communities, and a cultural shift in how we perceive our role as first responders,” he added.

Also speaking, the CEO of Harley and Wall Consulting, Dr. Ademolu Owoyele, said the widespread helplessness can not be blamed on Nigerians.Oyewole emphasised that the problem stretches into every corner of society.

“A recent health survey found that 8 in 10 Nigerians would not know how to help in an emergency. This isn’t the fault of the people. We’ve built a society where emergency response is the responsibility of healthcare workers alone.

Where emergency numbers are not common knowledge. Where public places lack basic tools like stretchers or defibrillators,” he said.According to him, in many developed nations, emergency response skills are taught in schools, first aid kits are everywhere, and people are empowered and expected to help.

“In Nigeria, helplessness has become normalised. People record trauma instead of responding to it. They fear legal consequences for offering aid.

They simply don’t know what to do,” he said.In bridging the gap in emergency response, the experts said they have collaborated and introduced a new initiative, Help Buddy, aimed at improving public readiness for medical emergencies..

They noted that with the introduction of the initiative they have developed, there is hope for a different future.Owoyele said, “Let’s reimagine a Nigeria where every citizen knows how to save a life. Where every home stores emergency contacts.

Where every public space contributes to a national web of response. Where helplessness is replaced by action, and inaction by knowledge.”Developed by a consortium of healthcare organisations— Wellane Health, GET Consortium, and Harley and Wall Healthcare and Business Consulting, they said the emergency response innovation has been endorsed by both the Nigerian Medical Association and the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

Explaining how the innovation works, Dotun said, “Help Buddy is designed to empower the everyday Nigerian. It aims to train 50 million Nigerians in first aid and emergency response over five years, using QR code stickers placed in public spaces.“These stickers, found in locations like offices, bus terminals, churches, schools, and markets, can be scanned to reveal short, visual guides on how to respond to emergencies—covering everything from CPR and bleeding control to convulsions and burns.

”Owoyele added, “It also connects users to nearby ambulance services, emergency contacts, and hospitals with ICU facilities. The interface is user-friendly, visual, and tailored for Nigerians. Best of all, it’s not just for medical professionals—it’s for everyone.

”On his part, Kolade stated, “This simple tool has the power to transform phones into life-saving devices. A scan, a few seconds of guidance, and someone who would have otherwise stood helpless might instead become the reason a life was saved. That’s the vision behind Help Buddy: to make every Nigerian a first responder.

”“Lives have been lost. But countless more can be saved. With Help Buddy, we are just one scan away from turning potential tragedy into triumph.

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