First Aid; Practicing Being Human in Tough Times Fatemeh Zare Pirhaji Human Resources Expert Kerman Civil Engineering Organization

The past few months have been a difficult ordeal for our society, marked by anxiety and sadness. From the tragic events of January, a source of sorrow and bitterness for many of our fellow citizens, to the war that began in March and has once again sown insecurity and anguish, these events are not confined to the news and statistics; each one can leave a profound mark on the lives of individuals, families, and workplaces. As our society continues to grapple with the weight of hardship, anxiety, and invisible wounds, it is more crucial than ever to remember a simple yet fundamental truth: in critical moments, what saves our lives is not just equipment and infrastructure, but solidarity. When we talk about first aid, we generally think of training such as wound dressing, CPR, fracture reduction, or rescue techniques. Essential skills that can make all the difference in a critical situation. But my experience with first aid training has shown me that it goes far beyond learning a few techniques; it’s about learning how to work together. At the beginning of the course, we thought we were simply acquiring a new skill; but we quickly realized that this training was much more than just a workshop. Colleagues who knew each other mainly through their roles, titles, and professional responsibilities found themselves in a completely new situation: neither the manager nor the expert mattered; we were all simply human beings learning to help each other through a difficult ordeal. We became learning partners. We held hands during bandaging exercises, practiced applying splints together, simulated strangulation situations, and learned to remain calm and make sound decisions under stress. On the surface, these exercises were just one part of a training course, but in reality, they provided an opportunity to rebuild trust and strengthen human connections. At work, we generally dedicate a lot of time to planning, productivity, objectives, and performance indicators; but we sometimes forget that organizations are much more than a set of processes: they are people. People with their own experiences, concerns, losses, and untold stories. The most powerful moment of this training was when a colleague shared a personal experience and a wound he still carries. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the classroom changed completely. It was no longer just a training session; it was an opportunity to listen to and understand the people we work with every day, but whose profound suffering we often ignore. This experience reminded us that organizational culture isn’t built solely through directives and formal meetings. True culture is forged in the moments when members of an organization learn to trust, support, and empathize with one another. Today, social resilience needs such connections more than ever. A resilient society is not one immune to crises; it is one where everyone is prepared to face them, recognizes their responsibility towards others, and understands that saving a life is not solely the responsibility of a specific group, such as first responders; it is knowledge that every citizen should possess. Faced with the multiple crises impacting the region and the world, from natural disasters and insecurity to wars, first aid training must not be relegated to the back burner or reserved for certain groups. It must be an integral part of general knowledge, just like learning communication and everyday safety skills. From this perspective, organizations have a crucial role to play. Businesses and work groups can contribute to fostering a culture of care, responsibility, and empathy by organizing first aid training for their employees, thereby strengthening their practical skills. These programs are not merely an educational measure; they also represent an investment in the organization’s human capital. In this regard, the work of organizations like the Red Crescent is invaluable. This institution, which has been working for years in the fields of education, relief, and cultural development, plays a crucial role in improving societal preparedness by disseminating this knowledge to the public. This training reminded us The fact that first aid is not just about saving lives, but also about respecting them.