National Ambulance and Special Olympics UAE Launch ‘Train Safely’ Initiative for People of Determination

Abu Dhabi, March 25, 2021: National Ambulance and Special Olympics UAE launched a community initiative to provide a safe training environment for People of Determination with intellectual disabilities. The ‘Train Safely’ initiative is set to educate and equip their coaches and teachers with vital first aid training and life-saving knowledge and skills that will help them deal with potential medical emergencies and sports injuries while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols in sports centers, academies, and Unified Champion Schools across the UAE. The initiative is part of National Ambulance’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme and continues the ongoing collaboration between the two parties, which was officially formed in 2019.

At a virtual event, organised during the week celebrating the second anniversary of the Special Olympics World Games – Abu Dhabi 2019, the initiative was launched under the patronage of Her Excellency Shamma Bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Chair of the Special Olympics UAE and in the presence of Ahmed Al Hajeri, Chief Executive Officer of National Ambulance and Talal Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Special Olympics UAE. 

Ahmed Saleh Al Hajeri, CEO of National Ambulance, said: “The Train Safely initiative reflects the importance of the continued partnership between National Ambulance and Special Olympics UAE, which has resulted in a number of joint successes and accomplishments. It reflects our corporate commitment to enhance prevention and safety methods and spread and instil a first aid culture among the community and the circle around the People of Determination. Emanating from our wise Leadership’s support towards People of Determination, we will continue to invest in efforts that ensure the sustainability of their inclusion, empowerment, and the provision of a safe environment in society to help them achieve their goals.”

Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, said: “Today, we are delighted to launch the Train Safely initiative, in collaboration with National Ambulance, which affirms the strength of our partnership. Through this initiative, we help empower our coaches at Special Olympics UAE with updated health and safety knowledge and skills to support our ability to provide vital care to People of Determination with intellectual disabilities. Our joint effort and coordination will allow us to achieve the highest levels of quality care and safety for our Athletes during competitions and events that they will participate in.”

‘Train Safely’ initiative will be delivered by National Ambulance’s team of qualified experts through an internationally accredited training curriculum covering basics of first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols.

The strategic partnership between Special Olympics UAE and National Ambulance was formed in 2019 and under its umbrella, more than 667 participants attended interactive trainings and innovative virtual educational sessions covering a variety of health and safety topics including awareness on COVID-19 and administering first aid during the pandemic.