Previous Next

May 8, 2023

FASTER Campaign: A Step towards Saving Lives on Indian Roads

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways published the annual report "Road Accidents in India - 2021" in December 2022, which revealed that there were 412,432 road accidents in India in the year 2021. These accidents resulted in 153,972 fatalities and 384,448 injuries.

This underscores the critical nature of road safety in India. It is important to note that many lives could be saved if victims of road accidents receive immediate and adequate first aid, as a significant number of deaths occur due to inadequate medical care during the crucial first golden hour after the accident.

To address this issue, Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan launched the FASTER campaign at Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa. Let’s understand the need for the FASTER campaign, its objectives, and activities.

What is FASTER Campaign?

The FASTER campaign launched by Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan at Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa is a unique initiative aimed at providing timely medical aid to accident victims. Road accidents are a major concern in India, with thousands of people losing their lives every year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India accounts for almost 11% of global road accident deaths, with an average of 415 deaths per day. It is therefore paramount to take measures to reduce the number of deaths on the roads. One way to do this is by providing timely first aid to the injured, which can significantly increase their chances of survival.

The FASTER campaign initiated by Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji is a step towards achieving this goal. The campaign encourages the vehicle owners to keep first aid kits containing essential life-saving supplies, which can help save lives during the critical moments after accident. It also aims to equip people with the necessary skills to provide first aid in case of an emergency.

First Aid Service and Treatment for Emergency Response on roads

Table of contents

• Road Accidents in India: A Growing Concern
• The Need and Objectives of FASTER Campaign
• Objectives of the FASTER Campaign
• Activities Under the FASTER Campaign
• Impact of the FASTER Campaign

Road Accidents in India: A Growing Concern

Road accidents are a growing concern in India. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, there were over 4.5 lakh road accidents in India in 2019, resulting in over 1.5 lakh deaths. The country has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world, with an average of over 1,300 accidents per day. The causes of road accidents in India are varied, including reckless driving, poor road conditions, and lack of awareness about road safety. The impact of road accidents is significant, resulting in loss of lives, injuries, and property damage.

The Need and objectives of FASTER Campaign

The acronym “FASTER” stands for First Aid Service and Treatment for Emergency Response on roads. The campaign advocates for a well-equipped first aid kit to be available in every vehicle to assist those involved in road accidents. Immediate medical help provided to the accident victims can play a huge role in saving their lives, and that is the main objective of FASTER campaign.

The objectives of this campaign are:

• Encouraging the practice of carrying a first aid kit in vehicles to assist victims of accidents.
• To provide first aid training to drivers to help reduce the impact of road accidents.
• To raise awareness about road safety through various awareness programs.
• To encourage the use of protective gear such as helmets and seat belts.

Activities under the FASTER Campaign

The FASTER campaign has several activities aimed at saving the lives of accident victims, including:

• Distribution of well equipped First Aid Kits:

Dera Sacha Sauda volunteers have pledged to keep First Aid Kits in their vehicles and also distribute them to other vehicle owners so that these can come handy in saving lives of accident victims.

• First Aid Training:

The campaign sheds light towards the first aid training to drivers and bystanders to reduce the impact of road accidents. The training includes basic first aid techniques such as wound care, CPR, and handling fractures.

• Awareness Drives:

The campaign conducts awareness drives to educate people about road safety and promote safe driving habits.

• Promoting usage of protective gear:

The campaign aims to make people aware of the significance of safety gear such as helmets and seat belts, to encourage their use among drivers and passengers.

Impact of FASTER Campaign

The significance of life-saving FASTER campaign is profound and its ever increasing impact will be visible in days to come as well, as millions of people have pledged to be an integral part of the campaign. Reduced number of fatalities through life-saving first aid, and providing help to the injured get medical care is a very humane and compassionate act, which is also the need of the hour. Thanks to Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, the awareness is reaching every section of the society and the waves of humanity are rising higher than ever. Let us come forward to support this campaign and join hands in saving lives and making India's roads safer for everyone.