UAE: Meet the doctor who dedicated his life to keeping children safe – News

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Dr. Taisser Atrak has developed several programs to keep children safe both at home and at school



Published: Sun 9 Oct 2022, 5:57 PM

Last month, a four-year-old child died after being trapped in a school bus in Qatar. Over the past few years, Dr. Taisser Atrak has tried to prevent such deaths and injuries in road accidents and drownings through an impressive and determined awareness campaign in Abu Dhabi.

Child safety and injury prevention are issues close to the heart of this Abu Dhabi Award winner, who is also Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and Consultant in Neonatology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC).

Since moving from the United States to Abu Dhabi in 2008, Dr Atrak has developed an awareness campaign on child safety on the road, at home and at school. As part of the program, he delivered Pediatric First Aid Training for Caregivers and Teachers (PedFACTs) on basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the fundamentals of child safety in cars and cars. bus to families, child carers, teachers, nannies. and bus drivers. He became a well-known figure for his tireless service to the community and concern for the safety and well-being of children.

“I have dedicated myself to this cause after seeing so many preventable injuries and deaths occur and due to the lack of awareness and education of caregivers on the basic measures and skills that can save lives. education and training in basic skills can save lives and make a significant difference in the health and safety of children,” said Dr. Atrak, an American Board-certified consultant neonatologist.

Dr. Atrak volunteers his time and funds free training sessions and workshops, which have helped save children’s lives in unexpected and emergency situations where a rapid response is needed.

Asked what drives him to continue his safety campaign for more than a decade now, he stressed that “sustainability of such programs is important.”

“I and my team still lead CPR training for families, education on car safety seats and other initiatives. Last June, we had a big campaign that included a booth at the Galleria Mall where we trained more than 600 families in car seats and CPR. This was sponsored by SSMC in partnership with the Mayo Clinic. We went to a number of majlis, schools, Zayed organizations and other centers leading child safety activities. These initiatives have been extremely successful with positive feedback from participants and a high number of likes and views on social media.”

Dr. Atrak has also developed several child safety health programs and initiatives, including a head cooling system for newborns and early hearing detection and intervention. Receiving the Abu Dhabi Awards, the highest civilian honour, in 2011 shone a light on his work and made him a role model.

“In my professional life, the Abu Dhabi Awards have raised greater expectations and propelled me to the next level as they have opened many doors with government entities for highlighting my initiatives, such as working with the Ministry of Interior for Car Seating Laws as a technical expert and work with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health on injury prevention initiatives and programs.As the Abu Dhabi awards are widely recognized , many entities have been inspired and followed our initiatives by introducing child safety programs into their organizations.

Dr Atrak stressed that the Abu Dhabi Awards are “tremendously important” as they identify selfless individuals who work for the betterment of society and drive positive change.

With nominations for the awards closing on October 10, Dr. Atrak hoped community members would choose someone who works selflessly.

“Nominate people who like to give without expecting any return, who have shown dedication to giving back to society, the unknown heroes who like to work in silence, and highlight their work and success so that they can receive the award Achievements and innovations aren’t about winning prizes, it’s about introducing award-winning ideas and making a lasting difference in people’s lives.”

Nominations can still be submitted by visiting the Abu Dhabi Awards website www.abudhabiawards.ae.

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