In response to the growing number of accident related injuries happening throughout the country, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and Red Cross Societies worldwide are increasingly working with their governments and other partners to reduce the number of road accidents as well as their physical, social and economic consequences.
PNRC chairman Sen. Richard J. Gordon said as National Societies play an important auxiliary role to governments in humanitarian matters, they can have influence in matters such as road safety.
"And as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has unparalleled access to communities worldwide through its 97 million volunteers, it can run effective public awareness campaigns and teach first aid at a local level," he said.
Gordon said that in 2005, more than half of all National Societies organized road safety first aid courses for members of the public, professional drivers, emergency medical personnel and police officers.
He said the International Federation and the Global Road Safety Partnership published a joint practical guide on road safety for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
Gordon said drivers must wear seat belt as it saves lives. "Make sure that everyone in the car wears their seat belts before you start the engine."
Gordon said there are four major risk factors in road safety – not wearing a seat belt, not wearing a crash helmet while on board motorcycles, over speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
"Wearing seat belts can reduce the risk of death or serious injury by 50 percent in the event of a crash. This is the most effective priority measure for injury reduction and the easiest to implement to protect vehicle occupants in a road crash," he said.
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