About 23 persons at Ghana’s 60 years’ independence anniversary parade in the Volta Region collapsed, claims the Regional Red Cross.
The parade, which was superintended by the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archiebal Yao Letsa, saw four out of the 23 being security personnel; two police officers and two prisons officers.
The Volta Regional Manager of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Gershon Dzokoto, told DAILY GUIDE that most of the people who collapsed suffered for dizziness. He added that some of them suffered from excessive heat, dehydration, poor fitness, fatigue, among others.
In all, over a 100 volunteers were on duty for the Red Cross Society and the National Ambulance Service; and they were in-charge of first aid at the parade ground. They were drawn from OLA Senior High School, Mawuko Senior High School, Mawuli Senior High School, Ho Nursing Training College and Ho Technical University.
Mr. Dzokoto advised that in future events the Red Cross should be resourced with enough water to be able to supply the contingents on parade to reduce dehydration. He also advised that persons who partake in such parades, especially students, should eat well before they show up.
He also stressed adequate exercising by persons on parade as poor fitness contributed to the collapsing of some of the members of the contingents. “The supervisors must ensure that very fit people partake in the parade, because if you are not fit you will grow tired easily,” he charged.
Some of the student volunteers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE expressed excitement that they had been able to put their skills to work and also learned from more experienced people.
This year’s independence anniversary was under the theme, ‘60 Years On: Mobilizing for Ghana’s Future.’
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