The “Basic First Aid Workshop”, which aims to strengthen the first aid skills of tourism sector professionals of the future, was organized in cooperation with the nursing and tourism faculties of Near East University.
Northern Cyprus hosts thousands of local and foreign visitors throughout the year within the tourism sector, which constitutes a significant part of its economy. It is of great importance for the sector employees, who provide a wide range of services from hotels to holiday villages, restaurants to touristic facilities, to be prepared for possible health emergencies in order to both increase guest satisfaction and ensure life safety. Thus, basic first aid knowledge has become a vital requirement for every individual working in the tourism sector.

In order to increase this awareness and especially to develop the first aid knowledge and skills of personnel working in the tourism sector, the “Basic First Aid Workshop” was organized in cooperation with the Nursing and Tourism faculties of Near East University.

The workshop, held at the İrfan Günsel Congress Center, brought together academicians and health professionals who are experts in their fields. In the event the opening speeches were given by the Dean of the Tourism Faculty, Prof. Dr. Nesrin M. Bahçelerli and Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal Yılmaz, and first aid practices that form the basis of life-saving interventions in emergencies were discussed in theoretical and practical dimensions. The workshop was held with the aim of both increasing the awareness level of individuals on this issue and contributing to social health awareness through interdisciplinary cooperation.

Life-saving information from experts!
Providing the participants with information about the basic concepts of first aid with her presentation titled “What is First Aid? Its Importance”, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing of Near East University Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal Yılmaz also shared information about correct intervention methods for skull and spine injuries, chest and abdominal traumas, fractures, dislocations and sprains.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nida Aydın, who addressed the subject of “Examination of the Patient and Injured at the Scene”, explained in detail the first aid practices that should be performed in cases of basic life support, bleeding and shock.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ezgi Bağrıaçık informed the participants about first aid practices that should be done in cases of animal bites and stings, foreign objects stuck in the body, drowning, burns and frostbite.

Prof. Dr. Nesrin M. Bahçelerli: “Being prepared for situations that require emergency intervention is an indispensable requirement for everyone working professionally in the tourism sector.”
Emphasizing that being prepared for possible emergencies is as important as improving the quality of service in the tourism sector, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism of Near East University Prof. Dr. Nesrin M. Bahçelerli said, “Having the knowledge and skills to make instant interventions that can directly affect the health of guests is an indispensable requirement for everyone working in the sector.”

Reminding that kitchens, which are one of the most important areas in hotels, are creative as well as risky areas, Prof. Dr. Nesrin M. Bahçelerli said, “First aid knowledge is also vital in accidents that kitchen workers may experience. Being prepared for situations that require emergency intervention, such as cuts, burns, fainting or allergic reactions, is indispensable for everyone who works professionally in the kitchen.” Prof. Dr. Nesrin M. Bahçelerli also said, “With this workshop, we aimed for our students to learn basic first aid information theoretically and practically and to be able to make conscious and correct interventions in possible emergency situations they may encounter.” Stating that the event exemplified interdisciplinary cooperation, Prof. Dr. Bahçelerli also thanked the Faculty of Nursing for their contributions.

Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal Yılmaz: “Emergency intervention information also allows us to make the right decisions in times of panic.”
Emphasizing that first aid is a life-saving intervention when applied consciously and correctly, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal Yılmaz, drew attention to the fact that incorrect applications can lead to permanent disabilities or even death. Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal Yılmaz said, “We can encounter accidents and situations requiring first aid at any moment of our lives, at home, at work or outside. In such cases, a basic first aid kit and the materials in it are often sufficient.”

Underlining that first aid applications should only be performed by people who have received ‘applied first aid training’ and have a certificate, Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal Yılmaz said, “Knowing what to do when we encounter emergencies allows us to make the right decisions in times of panic and makes the intervention effective. Thus, it is of great importance for everyone to receive first aid training.”