However, the emergency equipment with which they were trained at the Traffic Training School are not available with the Kolkata Police. “We trained the sergeants so that in case of major accidents, they can help transfer the victims to the hospitals without causing further injury,” said K Hari Rajan, Special Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

The training was imparted in a batch of 20 for one week for each batch. The training lasted for three hours every day.

The programme was sponsored by the Association of Neuro Scientist of Easten India, which had trained the sergeants in transportation of the injured with the help of instruments that can support the cervical bone and the spine of the victims. “Approximately 30 per cent of all major poly and head trauma cases are associated with injury to the cervical spine. This means the patient should not be immediately bundled into any available vehicle in any manner possible. A cervical collar or support and a backboard are mandatory. These will ensure that during shifting, there is no inadvertent movement of the cervical spine, preventing a disaster,” said a member of National Neurosciences sCentre, Kolkata.

After the training, the sergeants were tested in the skills and awarded certificates for the same. After the training, the traffic department was to procure instruments like the Philadelphia collar for the sergeants.

“It has been about six months since I received the training, but till date, we have not been given any collars. We usually put the injured person in a taxi and take him to the nearest hospital,” a traffic sergeant said, adding that since they were given training with collars and backboards, it is of no use till the collars are procured.