Before beginning operations we hold multiple meetings with local community members and leaders to create strong relationships and recruit potential volunteers. All volunteers receive training on basic trauma first aid, in small groups, from a Bangladeshi physician-trainer, focusing on life saving skills that are easy to teach, learn, and perform. Successful graduates are registered to serve as TraumaLink Volunteer First Responders and undergo retraining every 6-12 months. They are supervised by paid TraumaLink field staff who provide local support and quality control.

We have a dedicated emergency hotline number that provides access to our 24/7 call center. Operators first collect information on the incident location and number of injured patients. Using this information, our custom designed software automatically dispatches volunteers by SMS message, prioritized by their proximity to the crash scene. First aid supplies are stored in easily accessible locations to provide 24 hour a day availability. After patients have been treated at the crash scene, operators provide guidance on the nearest appropriate medical facility based on each patient’s location and the severity of their injuries. When all victims have been transported from the scene, the operator follows up by phone with the first responders to collect additional demographic and operational information related to the call.