Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: India continues to face an alarming road safety crisis, recording nearly 172,000 fatalities in 2023. Uttar Pradesh topped the list of states with the highest number of road crash deaths, reporting 23,652 casualties. Within the state, Prayagraj district alone accounted for 582 fatalities.
In a bid to strengthen emergency response capabilities and save lives at crash sites, SaveLIFE Foundation, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Police and Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd, conducted a Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) training for 48 police personnel in Prayagraj district on 29 August, 2025.
Organised under SaveLIFE Foundation’s ‘Jeevan Rakshak’ programme and supported by Tata AIG as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, this training is aimed at bridging the critical gap in trauma response by non-medical first responders. The session, which was held at Triveni Sabhagaar, Police Lines, was presided over by Neeraj Kumar Pandey, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Traffic), Uttar Pradesh Police; Kuldeep Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Police Commissionerate, Prayagraj; along with the SaveLIFE team.
Speaking about the training, Singh said, “It is very useful to train police personnel in basic trauma life support. This will enable them to provide first aid to road accident victims and can help save lives by the time emergency services arrive. This collaboration with SaveLIFE Foundation is important for us to improve the emergency response in Prayagraj.”
The training was held as part of SaveLIFE Foundation’s Zero Fatality District (ZFD) programme which aims to reduce road crash deaths through a multi-faceted and evidence-based approach involving the 4Es of road safety – engineering, emergency care, enforcement, and education. Tailored to each district’s crash profile and enforcement capacity, ZFD offers a strategic, localised approach to saving lives.
In most road crashes, bystanders and police personnel are often the first ones to arrive at the scene. From calling emergency services to administering basic care, early intervention can significantly reduce fatalities and prevent further harm. Research has shown that timely and appropriate first response during the critical “Golden Hour” can reduce mortality by as much as 30%. However, formal trauma response training remains limited among these groups.
Saurabh Maini, Senior Executive Vice President & Head – Consumer Business, Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd, said, “At Tata AIG, we believe saving lives starts with empowering first responders. We are proud to partner with SaveLIFE Foundation to help equip the Uttar Pradesh Police with lifesaving skills, advancing our commitment to community safety and timely emergency care.”
Piyush Tewari, Founder and CEO of SaveLIFE Foundation, said, “Every minute counts after a road crash, and trained first responders can make the difference between life and death. Through this training, we aim to build critical trauma care capacity on the ground by empowering police personnel with the skills and confidence to act swiftly. We are grateful to the Uttar Pradesh Police for their leadership and commitment to saving lives on the road.”
As part of the training, police personnel were equipped with essential life-saving skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bleeding control, and cervical spine (C-spine) immobilisation. The session also covered a range of critical first response techniques, such as rapid recognition of medical emergencies, initial victim assessment and interaction, scene safety management, and airway management.
Participants were also trained in responding to high-risk incidents like choking, while also gaining a clear understanding of the importance of the “Golden Hour” in improving survival outcomes for road crash victims. Additionally, they were briefed on the Good Samaritan Law, its implementation protocols, judicial interpretations and case studies.
To date, SaveLIFE Foundation has trained over 26,000 police personnel and citizen volunteers across India. The program has helped the Delhi Police, among others, to improve the quality of emergency response to victims of road crashes and contributed to a 30% reduction in road crash deaths between 2012 and 2017.
