Our Kilimanjaro porters receive first aid training

In March 2024, our Kilimanjaro porters were invited to take part in a free first aid training programme in Moshi (the city at the base of Kilimanjaro where many porters live).

This was an exciting opportunity for the men and women who work with Follow Alice as Kilimanjaro porters to learn a new skill. As mentioned, porters on Kilimanjaro usually don't receive first aid training, but we wanted to offer this course as an opportunity for career development. While some porters remain porters throughout their careers, others advance in the ranks, becoming assistant guides and eventually even lead guides, which are higher paid professions.

We also had a couple of our Kilimanjaro cooks join the course as they were also keen to learn a new skill.

Some of our porters learning to make arm slings on the day

The first aid training took place from 8 am to 4 pm on two consecutive days. The programme involved oral and visual instruction in wilderness first aid principles and best practices, including the ABCDE approach to patient assessment:

The primary focus of the programme was on how to treat impact trauma and fractures and how to evacuate those in need. Participants were able to engage in hands-on practising of the various skills. Those who passed the course were then awarded a first aid certificate that's valid for two years. 🤓

Below are some pictures from the training that help to tell the story. As you can see, while first aid is a serious topic and the participants were taking the course seriously, there was also room for some fun and laughter!

The programme started with a talk

Everyone then gathered around to see the procedures in action

It was then time to practise for themselves

You may have noticed that our porters aren't only men

The team also had to learn how to set up a stretcher

The knotting for a splint is important

Abedi having a laugh at his leg being put into a splint

Most folks evacuated off Kilimanjaro are carried down on a stretcher like this one

Finally, our Follow Alice Tanzania directors, Chris and Bobu, were there to oversee the training

Well done to all the men and women who took part in the training and earned their first aid certificate – we're super proud of you!