Participants administer First Aid to victims in Kwale County. This was this year's annual First Aid competition organized by Kwale Base Titanium for Schools, Colleges and Institutions. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

The Base Titanium Makuti Complex was the host to the annual Kwale County Grassroot First Aid competition held over the weekend.

The event now in its 5th year and sponsored by Base Titanium attracted a record 80 teams comprising of primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and corporate institutions.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Kwale County co-ordinator, Mr Mohamed Said stated that the event was a meant to give first aid responders the opportunity to polish and showcase their skills in administering first aid.

Volunteers at event – competitors, casualties, makeup artists, judges, organizers and runners – included people from every walk of life.

''This event is timely considering that we continue to face daily dangers in our schools, place of work and at our homes .It is right forum where skills are imparted and level of preparedness gauged,'' Said added.

Different accident scenarios were played out with team of first aid responders being called onto stage to attend to the causalities.

Casualties were pale and bleeding with others suffering multiple injuries on their arms and legs or head.

Base Titanium Senior Training Officer, Occupational Health and Safety department, Mr Michael Njenga said that the scenarios had been based on real situations and injuries.

At the end of the day, the casualties all smiled, peeled off the gauze and washed away the blood and bruises, winners were awarded trophies and certificates.

In the primary school category, Busara Primary School emerged top with 56 marks, followed in second place by Goa Primary School who amassed 52 marks. In third position was Rescue Academy with 31marks.

In the secondary schools cartergory, Ngozi Girls scored 82.2 mark to emerge victorious .In the college category 4 Kaya managed 82 marks to beat Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Msambweni to position two with 76.3 marks while Ukunda Vocational was third with 71.3 marks.

Other catergory winners were Base Titanium A (130 marks), Base Titanium B (123 marks) and Kwale County Government team scoring 113 marks respectively.