What is it about?
This study looked at how willing people living near a busy and dangerous highway in Cameroon are to help if someone is seriously injured in a road crash. The researchers talked to almost 450 community members who live along the National 3 Highway, a road known for frequent road crashes. They found that most people (about 75%) were ready to help as first responders before an ambulance or doctor arrived. However, very few had first-aid training or knew what to do in an emergency. People who had some basic knowledge of first aid, or who had witnessed a crash before, were more likely to say they’d help. Most participants said they’d like to get trained and would be more confident if they had support like phone credit, equipment, or a number to call in emergencies. This shows that communities in Cameroon and similar places are willing to step in and help save lives after accidents, but they need training and tools to do it safely and effectively.
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Photo by Nana Yaw Israel on Unsplash
Why is it important?
In many parts of the world, especially in low-income countries like Cameroon, there are no reliable ambulance services or trained emergency workers nearby when road crashes happen. That means injured people often don’t get help quickly and some may die before reaching a hospital. This study is important because it shows that local people are willing and ready to help in emergencies, even though they may not have formal training. It highlights a powerful opportunity: by training community members in basic first aid, lives can be saved right at the scene of an injury. What makes this research unique is that it focuses on real communities living in high-risk areas and gives practical insight into what kind of support they would need to become effective lay first responders. This could help governments, civil societies, and health agencies design community-based emergency care systems that are low-cost, sustainable, and life-saving.
Perspectives
As someone deeply committed in improving health outcomes in underserved communities, I find this study both inspiring and urgent. It shows that solutions to critical challenges like the lack of emergency care don’t always need to wait for big infrastructure. The willingness of everyday people to step up and help after road traffic crashes is a powerful reminder that communities are not just victims of poor systems, they can be part of the solution. What stood out most to me is the gap between willingness and preparedness. People want to help, but they need training and support. This research gives us a roadmap for building community first lay responder programs that are simple, effective, and scalable. I hope it sparks more investment in community-based emergency care, not just in Cameroon, but across similar settings worldwide.
Elvis Asangbeng Tanue
University of Buea
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Community willingness to participate in prehospital injury care: A cross-sectional survey of injury-prone areas along the national 3 highway in Cameroon, PLOS One, September 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0332179.
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