The PNG Red Cross East New Britain branch recently completed a one- week successful Community Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) training aimed at equipping youths and parents with new first aid knowledge and skills. The training, which was held at the Mandress Ward in the inland Baining Local Level Government (LLG) in Gazelle district, was facilitated by provincial Red Cross Branch Coordinator, Steven Kilalang along with four other instructors from the branch supervised by the National First Aid Coordinator, Kawai Wotangas from the Port Moresby Headquarters Red Cross office. According to Mr. Kilalang, the training conducted, comes under the Red Ready (RR) Project and funding from International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), a partner of the PNG Red Cross. He said the project is piloted in three provinces including East New Britain, Milne Bay and Madang since 2019. This project, which is now nearing its end, has so far run in selected wards including Malakuna No. 2 in the Rabaul district, Bitakapuk Ward in the Gazelle district and Malaguna No. 5 in the Kokopo District and now ending it at Mandress Ward. Kilalang also stated that the Red Ready (RR) Project has also built up some of the volunteers in the branch to become trainers. The volunteers have been carrying out the project since 2019 and they have been assessed till now and are now qualified to be trainers. “This is a win-win situation. The participants benefit in getting the knowledge and skills of first aid and also the instructors who we build to another level.” “Every time when we need help or when there is emergency, we usually send for help and when we’re waiting or travelling to hospital, we lose people now; however, with the skills now, this will greatly help those in need.” Furthermore, First Aid training is demanding in the workplace and as well as in the communities, and Mandress Ward members are lucky to be trained in these skills so they can attend and respond accordingly when there is a disaster or situation in their community. Meanwhile, a female representative, Marry Gai expressed how much they’ve learnt from the one-week training especially in terms of emergencies such as childbirth and treating wounds, and are thankful to be given the privilege to learn such skills and training. The first aid program is basically about the various injuries that includes basic life support, bleeding management, general medical condition, fracture management, poison snake bite, lack of oxygen, burns and scalds and emergency childbirth. Moreover, the 28 participants who took part have been urged to practice what they have learnt in their family unit and in their community.