First-aid box disappear from city buses!

• Traffic rules not being followed

Mangaluru: The bus owner is responsible for the safety of the passengers travelling in the bus. There is a direction from the traffic department according to which, as a precautionary measure, all buses must compulsorily have first aid box to provide assistance in case a passenger meets with an accident or the health condition deteriorates suddenly, But, the first aid boxes within the various buses plying in the city have disappeared and thereby traffic rule is being violated.

Most of the bus drivers and conductors have no clue on how to provide first aid. Transport Department’s permission is required for anyone to work as a bus conductor. Hence, the conductor has to face an exam on how to provide first aid in case of an emergency. Only after passing the exam will the transport department gives its permission.

A few buses not only ply within the city but also go to rural areas. Village areas usually do not have hospital services. Hence in case of emergency, danger can be evaded if there is first aid box equipped with medicine in the bus.

Passengers need to raise their voices

Shivarama, a local spoke with “Udayavani” and said that every bus should mandatorily have a first aid box. In case of an accident, first aid can save the life of an injured passenger. A few buses do not have first aid boxes. Passengers need to raise their voice on this, he said.

What should be there within the boxes?

First aid boxes are placed behind the bus driver’s seat to nurse the injured. The first aid box must compulsorily contain cotton, Dettol, tincture, soap, cotton cloth, ointment, medicine for burns and a few other medicines.

Only for namesake

The boxes with the inscription first aid have lost one of their nails and are hanging in some of the city buses. But, nothing has been stored within the box as a precautionary action. Instead the box is being utilized to keep bus tickets and ETM machines by some.

Will conduct operation

“There is no first aid box in some of the city buses plying in the city. This issue has been notices. We will soon be conducting operations at various locations in the city,” informed Manjunath Shetty, Traffic ACP Mangaluru.

Will notify bus owners

“Some city buses plying in the city do not have first aid boxes. Every single must mandatorily have it. I’ll try to convince the bus owners in this regard. Besides, I will put forth this issue during the next meeting,” informed Dilraj Alva, President of the City bus Owners Association.

Article by Naveen Bhat Ilanthil translated into English by Aaron Dmello