The recent tragic death of an 18-year-old final-year student from O'Reilly Senior High School in Accra has sent shockwaves through the education community. Stabbed on campus and pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, this incident highlights the urgent need for schools to adopt stronger emergency preparedness protocols and effective measures for immediate medical intervention.

One of the most critical steps that should have been taken in this unfortunate scenario is the application of first aid—specifically, measures that can be administered in cases of severe bleeding. In situations like this, controlling the bleeding is key to stabilizing a victim until professional medical help arrives. Applying pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or bandage and elevating the injury site could have slowed down blood loss. If there had been personnel trained in basic first aid on site, the student may have had a better chance of survival while awaiting emergency medical assistance.

It is with tragedies like this in mind that the Traveling School Nurses GH program seeks to offer a preventive and supportive service for Ghanaian private schools. The Traveling School Nurses GH project, an initiative by the Hope And Service to Mankind Foundation, a registered NGO, is designed to deploy registered nurses into schools to provide comprehensive health assessments, preventive care, and mental health support to students across Ghana.

Our team of nurses, who visit schools on a scheduled basis, are not only equipped to provide immediate medical attention but are also trained to handle emergencies. Their presence would offer critical first aid support in cases such as this, where seconds can make the difference between life and death.

Moreover, Traveling School Nurses GH is dedicated to educating students, teachers, and school staff on essential first aid practices and empowering them with the skills to manage emergencies before paramedics arrive. This initiative could serve as a deterrent to similar incidents by fostering an environment where immediate medical response is not just a possibility but a reality.

By incorporating the Traveling School Nurses GH program into private schools, for only GHC60 per term per child, we aim to promote safety, ensure timely medical attention, and prevent the escalation of injuries into fatal incidents. Had our nurses been present at O'Reilly Senior High School, they would have acted swiftly, administered appropriate first aid, and provided the necessary care until further medical help was accessible.

This tragedy is a stark reminder of the importance of having trained medical professionals available in schools. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased student and call on educational institutions to prioritize health and safety measures, including integrating professional health services like Traveling School Nurses GH, to help avoid similar heartbreak in the future.