LUCKNOW, May 28 -- On the occasion of World Emergency Medicine Day, bike taxi drivers in Lucknow were given training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), first aid and road safety to empower them to become first responders in emergencies. The initiative is part of Pan-India drive by Society of Acute Care, Trauma and Emergency Medicine (SACTEM) in collaboration with one of India's largest mobility platforms under which over 1,000 bike taxi drivers receive training in Lucknow and 15 other major cities, stated a press release shared by SACTEM on Tuesday. These training sessions were specifically designed to empower bike taxi drivers - individuals who are constantly on the move and often the first witnesses to road accidents (RTA). By equipping them with basic emergency response skills, they aim to enhance community-level responsiveness and save lives during the critical golden hour - the first hour after trauma, where timely intervention significantly increases chances of survival and reduces disability. In Lucknow, the training programme was conducted in association with Medanta Hospital, further strengthening the initiative with expert clinical guidance and practical demonstrations by emergency care specialists. Dr Lokendra Gupta, founder and president, SACTEM, said the CPR training and road safety awareness matters a lot to save human lives as India records one of the highest number of road traffic accidents globally. "According to recent data, India reports more than 4.6 lakh road traffic accidents annually, with over 1.5 lakh fatalities. A large percentage of these deaths occur due to the lack of timely first aid and delayed transport to hospitals. Studies show that treatment within golden hour can prevent up to 40% of deaths caused by RTAs," he explained. Dr Nayan Sriramula, national coordinator for this initiative, emphasized the crucial role of early intervention in both medical and surgical emergencies, highlighting that timely help can often mean the difference between life and death....