US body to give heart therapy training in India

The National Safety Council of the US opened its first safety training centre, "Safety Circle", in India today at Chandigarh. With an investment of Rs 30 crore spread over the next two years, the company has a target of training 100,000 people in the first year.

According to the most recent global study on cardiac diseases by the World Health Organisation, India has the highest number of deaths from coronary heart diseases, numbering more than 1.5 million.

The training programme will include first aid, emergency care and response, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, ergonomics, and stress management programmes. Certification will be done by the National Safety Council. The duration of the course will vary from two to 12 hours, depending on the course opted by the trainees. The training cost will be from Rs 250 to Rs 1,250, depending on the training module.

Promoting safety and health in the country, BPS Bakshi, managing director, Strategic Safety Services Private Ltd, said, "We have customised our programmes for various segments of the society from corporate employee,working professional,factory workers, housewives, children and senior citizens."

Safety Circle aims to train 100,000 people by the next financial year and 1 million in the next three years, in India.

"We plan to cover 15 towns in the first year and should have presence in more than 50 towns in the next three years. Simultaneously we plan to start our operation in Sri lanka"informed Bakshi. After Chandigarh the company will open offices in Gurgaon, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore.The company targets to breakeven by June'2008.

To impart training currently there are 10 trainers which will be increased to 2,000 trainers in the next three years.

Since the soft launch of the programme in Chandigarh and the adjoining towns of Mohali and Panchkula training has been imparted to 2,000 people. Corporate from Airtel, Ranbaxy, Cadbury, HLL, Dabur, Tata Teleservices are currently getting their employees trained.

Founded in 1913, the National Safety Council is the world's largest health and safety organisation for protecting life and promoting health safety. The circle will be promoting health and safety training programmes in the six SAARC countries including India.