First aid skills save lives. In Gauteng, the Department of Health’s First Responder Training Programme is equipping women with practical, life-saving knowledge to confidently manage emergencies in their communities. This initiative not only imparts critical first aid techniques but also cultivates leadership, resilience, and empowerment, transforming women into pillars of safety and hope during crises.
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Table of contents
- Gauteng’s First Responder Training Programme
- Life-Saving Skills You Can Count On
- Building Confidence and Leadership
- Women Leading in Emergencies
- MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko’s Support
- Voices from the Graduates
- Community Impact of the Training
- Supporting Women’s Health and Well-being
- A Future Where Safety and Leadership Thrive
Gauteng’s First Responder Training Programme
Offered by Lebone College of Emergency Care, the training focuses on practical, hands-on skills essential for responding to common medical emergencies. The programme’s goal is to ensure women have the confidence and expertise to act decisively and responsibly while waiting for professional help. By empowering women, the programme builds community resilience and strengthens neighbourhood safety nets.
Life-Saving Skills You Can Count On
Participants learn a broad array of emergency response techniques:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to revive heart attack victims
- Assisting individuals during seizures to prevent harm
- Treating burns and managing sprains or strains
- Handling stab or gunshot wounds safely to control bleeding
- Providing help to fall victims and injured household members
Mastering these skills prepares women to be immediate responders, often making the difference between life and death in critical moments.
Building Confidence and Leadership
The training goes beyond technical skills. Women are taught to maintain calm, assess situations quickly, and confidently make vital decisions under pressure. Emphasis on leadership prepares them to guide others during emergencies and to act as community role models, inspiring neighbours through courage and competence.
Women Leading in Emergencies
Graduates of the programme emerge empowered to take charge in crises. They become trusted leaders in their communities, capable of organising effective responses and supporting vulnerable individuals. Their presence strengthens social cohesion and ensures faster, more reliable emergency care at the grassroots level.
MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko’s Support
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, visited Devland on 22 August 2025 to celebrate 193 young women completing the training. She praised their dedication and resilience, underscoring that this initiative is about more than first aid, it is about empowering women to protect, lead, and inspire.
“When women are trained to lead and respond,” she said, “they help build resilient families and neighbourhoods.”
Voices from the Graduates
The programme has touched lives profoundly. Nontshindiso Ngcongo shared, “I learned how to attend to a sick person and respond to burns. Now, I know what to do during emergencies while waiting for an ambulance.” Thembi Khosa expressed excitement about future opportunities, saying, “Learning CPR opened my eyes to new paths in emergency care.”
Their stories reflect the confidence, knowledge, and hope this training instils.
Community Impact of the Training
More than a medical skillset, the programme fosters confidence under pressure, leadership capacity, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Trained women inspire others to be proactive in emergencies, creating safer and more resilient communities across Gauteng.
Supporting Women’s Health and Well-being
In line with Gauteng’s commitment to women’s empowerment, this initiative is part of broader efforts to support women’s health in underserved areas. By equipping women with practical knowledge, the programme reduces dependence on strained healthcare services and enhances grassroots preparedness.
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A Future Where Safety and Leadership Thrive
The First Responder Training Programme is a powerful catalyst for women’s leadership in health. It provides tools that extend far beyond first aid, building stronger families, connected communities, and safer neighbourhoods. As more women step up as first responders, Gauteng models how education and empowerment can save lives and inspire futures.
