The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) is to commercialize its first aid training to individuals, groups and corporate bodies.

Mr Francis Obeng, the National First Aid Coordinator, said this has become necessary to help the society raise money to expand its operations.

He said the goal of assisting the population to properly manage injuries and sudden illness whenever these occurred could not be achieved without adequate funding.

Speaking at the end of the an-eight day training for 25 first aid workers from across the country in Kumasi, he said they have taken delivery of equipment from the Chinese Red Cross to strengthen its training activities.

Belgium and Finland provided funding and technical support for the workshop, which took the participants through accident management, management of bleeding and wounds, unconsciousness and cardio pulmonary resuscitation among others.

Forty more are expected to benefit from the programme before the close of the year, and upon completion they would return to their various regions to assist in training others before the commercialization activity begins.

Mr Obeng said the GRCS is collaborating with the National Road Safety Commission, National Ambulance Service and the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit to equip some volunteers along accident prone areas on the highways with the necessary skills to efficiently manage accident victims, when these occur.

Finnish Red Cross First Aid Coordinator, Mrs Niina Hernaven, pledged continued support for the GRCS.

Mr Kwame Asante, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Society, said first aid needs to be taken seriously to save lives.