People who want to... be unemployed

(Baonghean) - For the past 10 years, motorbike taxi drivers and street vendors at Yen Ly intersection, Dien Chau district have been silently helping people who have been unfortunate enough to have traffic accidents on National Highway 1A. Recently, they were gathered by the provincial Red Cross Society to form a special first aid team. When asked about their wishes, they said, we just hope to be unemployed, and to have no more serious traffic accidents that leave pain for so many families.

Hastily wiping away sweat after a motorbike taxi ride, Trinh Van Phuong (born in 1972), a member of the special first aid team, as usual “reported” the traffic situation to the team members. Phuong said that National Highway 1A running through Yen Ly intersection often has traffic accidents.

For over 10 years now, whenever they see an accident victim, the motorbike taxi drivers and street vendors have rushed to help and give first aid to take them to the hospital. During that time, the team members have lost count of how many people they have helped, and have had many funny and sad memories. Mr. Phuong confided: “When we hear that someone has an accident in the area, we are there regardless of rain or shine, day or night.

Every time I brought a victim to the emergency room, their blood stained my shirt. Not to mention the countless times I took a victim to the hospital and their family members threatened to beat and kill them because they were mistaken for the person who caused the accident. When the victim's family calmed down, I just laughed it off and didn't blame them. Many people saw this and said "I'm holding on to straw", but the team members still silently did charity work for all those years without stopping.

Representatives of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee handed out first aid kits to volunteers. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Mr. Le Duc Son - Head of the first aid point, who also works at the Security Team of Dien Yen Commune Police, Dien Chau District, recalls that more than 10 years ago, the team operated spontaneously with initially 5 members, then gradually increased to 20 people, mainly street vendors, motorbike taxi drivers, and neighborhood police officers... Before the point was established, the team members encountered many difficulties.

Like in April 2016, he was alone on the road when he saw a little girl in an accident. Unable to wait for help, he drove with one hand and carried the girl with the other to the nearest medical station. When the medical station closed, he turned back and took the girl to Phu Dien Hospital. He personally completed the admission procedures, contacted the family, and then he was the one who returned to the scene of the accident to find the child's health insurance card.

Apart from Mr. Son, who has a stable income from the Commune Police Security Team, all 12 other members of the first aid team work for their own sake and do not receive any allowance. Even Mr. Hoang Van Du, a member of the team, is willing to use his family's house facing the national highway as the first Red Cross first aid station in the province.

The members of the first aid center also encountered dissuasion from their families because of the fear of danger and infection when saving people. However, gradually, witnessing the members’ acts of kindness and spirit of helping people without fear of hardship, their families began to understand and support them. Mr. Sinh - a member of the team shared: "The biggest wish of the brothers in the center is to be... unemployed, no more traffic accidents, no more pain left behind."

From spontaneous activities, on May 17, 2017, the Red Cross first aid point located in Dien Yen commune was officially established with 13 members. Since the establishment of the point, members have participated in first aid training courses, been equipped with bandages, medicine, and full medical equipment, making everyone feel more secure and excited to continue with their volunteer work.

Chu Thanh