World First Aid Day 2021 will be commemorated in Samoa on Friday with various colleges taking part in first aid training offered by the Samoa Red Cross Society. 

The global event is celebrated on the second Saturday in September every year with the Samoa Red Cross Society's celebrations this year revolving around the theme "first aid at school".

First aid teams from Avele College, Vaimauga College, Leififi College and the Church College of the Latter Day Saints in Pesega will showcase their acquired knowledge and skills through a series of first aid training they've completed.

The different scenarios that will be created for them to apply their skills include a tsunami response scenario that will generate various types of injuries from choking, burns, unconsciousness or breathing, open and closed fractures and spinal injuries.

The four teams will act out the scenarios in line with their skills, knowledge and time which are some of the vital factors in saving lives.

The event will be held at the Samoa Red Cross Society Headquarters in Tuanaimato on Friday and the keynote address will be given by the Samoa Red Cross Society President Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt.

According to a statement issued by the Samoa Red Cross Society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies introduced World First Aid Day in 2000 to raise awareness on how first aid can save lives.

"However, first aid response is believed to have started just over 160 years ago. At the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy, Henry Dunant, a young businessman from Geneva saw a catastrophic amount of suffering," the statement reads.

"Around 40,000 dead men surrounded him, and many more were wounded without any medical assistance. In response, Henry Dunant called upon an official need for humanitarian aid and the idea of the Red Cross was born. 

"Today it is known as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the movement) and is the world's largest humanitarian network.

"Today, 192 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the world are organising events and ceremonies on the second Saturday of September, to celebrate World First Aid Day, 2021 in their respective countries, and to further promote public awareness on first aid and how it can save lives in everyday crisis situations."