One thousand first aid instructors will be trained this year to help pass on basic skills to about 1.35 million residents, a spokesperson for the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) Shanghai branch said.

The program is part of the city's efforts to ensure public safety during the 2010 World Expo as well as improve the day-to-day lives of local people, Wei Bin, director of the branch's training center, said.

The first 90 instructors, who hail from 10 city districts, concluded a five-day training program at the weekend.

"The rest will be trained in similar groups throughout the year," Wei said.

Everyone who completes the training course will be awarded a certificate and also asked to pass on what they have learned to people in their communities, he said.

"By the end of this year, we hope they will have passed on basic first aid knowledge to 385,000 people," Wei said.

"The training will help people deal with medical emergencies and also how to avoid potential problems," he added.

"The new instructors will also be asked to play a part in ensuring the safety of the many thousands of guests we expect at the 2010 Expo."

The RCSC's Shanghai branch has set a goal to equip all 1.35 million of the city's residents with basic first aid knowledge by 2010, Wei said.

The instructors will be taught a range of skills, including how to give artificial respiration, treating acute diseases and minor injuries, and dealing with emergency situations, he said.

The training courses have been well received by locals.

Shen Huiping, a retired woman from the Changning district, who was among the first batch of instructors, said: "Before I did the course, I had almost no idea about first aid.

"It will be very helpful to me, because I will know what to do the next time I encounter a medical emergency. Maybe I'll even be able to save a life."

Shen said she decided to become a first aid volunteer and instructor after hearing about the new training program in her community.

"The good thing is that my new first aid skills will not only be useful in helping others, but also myself if I'm ever involved in an accident," she said.

Su Haihong, who is responsible for the training courses, said a basic knowledge of first aid can help save countless numbers of lives.

About 1 million people in Shanghai know first aid, but they are mostly drivers, police, hotel workers and volunteers, he said.

(China Daily March 26, 2008)