SIBU: The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Sibu Branch is calling on members of the public to equip themselves with basic first-aid knowledge, stressing that lifesaving skills should not be confined to healthcare professionals.
The call comes in conjunction with World First Aid Day 2026, which Sibu MRCS will commemorate on September 6 at Kingwood Hotel here, with a range of practical demonstrations, health screening and health-promotion activities.
Sibu MRCS Chairman, Penghulu Chua Hiong Kee, said the annual observance serves as an important reminder that first aid is not only a lifesaving skill but also an essential humanitarian act that everyone should learn.
He said this year’s celebration aims to raise public awareness, promote first-aid education and empower communities to respond effectively during emergencies.
“First aid knowledge gives ordinary people the confidence and ability to act quickly in accidents, injuries or sudden illnesses before professional medical assistance arrives,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 3).
Among the practical skills featured at the First Aid Booth, which will operate from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, are cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), choking management for adults and infants, wound and bleeding management, treatment of closed fractures, recovery position and casualty transportation.
Participants will also be introduced to techniques for handling injuries involving the palm, forearm, elbow, tibia and fibula, as well as the collarbone.
Other demonstrations include bandaging techniques, head bandaging for cut wounds, management of sprained ankles and chest burns, and first aid for an unconscious casualty.
In addition to first-aid activities, a health screening programme will be held from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm in cooperation with Alpro Pharmacy and Biolife Lab (Sibu) Sdn Bhd.
The screening will include cholesterol, glucose and ferritin tests.
A separate health promotion programme, conducted in cooperation with Hospital Sibu, will also be held during the same period.
It will cover infection control, medication awareness, organ donation recruitment, diabetes awareness and HIV awareness.
Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the celebration and take the opportunity to learn and practise practical first-aid skills that could potentially save a life.
