This project was designed to reduce secondary injury of road traffic accidents (RTA) victims in Hai Duong (HDRC) province in Vietnam in collaboration with the Red Cross with funding from Medical Teams International (MTI). The approximate number of beneficiaries was 601,820, including the 1,820 direct beneficiaries who received first responder training and emergency treatment. The 600,000 indirect beneficiaries is the population along a 45km corridor of National Highway #5 crossing Hai Duong province.

In late October 2009 an evaluation team from MTI reviewed the training of Vietnam Red Cross volunteers in Hai Duong province. The pre-evaluation activities (review of patient contact log books and patient interviews) were conducted by the MTI-Vietnam staff. 58 trained lead volunteers and 20 community members participated in this evaluation. Additionally 92 patients who had been treated by the volunteers were also interviewed.

Findings included: a) the volunteers who received training stated an increase in their confidence to respond to emergencies, b) a 65% increase of Red Cross volunteers, c) a increased awareness of EMS within the province, d) greater community engagement at emergency scenes, and e) broad respect from the community towards the HDRC volunteers.

Considerations for the future include: a) development of a continuing education program, b) increase of supplies to volunteers, c) more training involving multi casualty incidents, d) development of a communications protocol between volunteers and other healthcare providers and e) limit CPR training to drowning related events.

The outcomes exceeded the planned goals: knowledge and retention of course materials and skills is good, confidence levels of volunteers increased and those that are involved in emergency events in Hai Duong province are safer. The profile of EMS and first responders as a critical component of community health has been measurably raised among key stakeholders and the community.