Mysuru: Every fight for survival after a tragic road accident begins long before an ambulance carries the victim to the Accident and Emergency Care Unit. It starts on the road with a rushed decision, a distracted glance at a phone or a moment when an ambulance is unable to move through traffic. These are the moments that Manipal Hospital Mysore regularly encounters.

With these realities in mind, Manipal Hospital, in collaboration with Mysuru City Traffic Police, Delhi Public School and Nexus Mall, led a community road safety and emergency awareness initiative at Nexus Centre City Mall recently.

The event was attended by Pramod Kunder, Director, Manipal Hospital Mysore; Siddesh, Police Sub-Inspector, NR Traffic Division; Sreekumar Mohanan, Centre Director, Nexus Centre City Mall; Manju Sharma, Director – Principal, Delhi Public School and Dr. Ameena Husna, Emergency Specialist, Manipal Hospital Mysore.

Highlighting the hospital’s commitment to extending care beyond hospital walls, Pramod Kunder stated, “Manipal Hospital Mysore is deeply committed to saving lives with a strong focus on emergency readiness, supported by trained trauma teams, advanced life-support ambulances and rapid-response protocols designed to act when every minute counts. However, along with clinical excellence, community awareness is a critical pillar of saving lives.”

Reflecting on the role of responsible driving and public awareness in saving lives, Dr. Ameena Husna said, “With adherence to traffic rules, many accidents are preventable. In unfortunate situations where accidents do occur, timely emergency response — especially during critical golden hour — can make the difference between recovery and irreversible loss. Every minute lost on road due to unsafe behaviour or blocked ambulance movement can lead to irreversible outcomes.”

The awareness programme used a student-led skit to convey these messages in a simple, relatable manner, highlighting responsible driving, respect for traffic rules, basic emergency response and the life-saving importance of giving way to ambulances during emergencies.

Emphasising the importance of individual accountability on the road, SI Siddesh said “Road safety is not enforced by rules alone; it depends on responsible behaviour from every road user. Simple actions such as following traffic regulations, avoiding distractions and giving way to ambulances can save lives.”

Reinforcing the role of public spaces in driving social awareness, Sreekumar Mohanan said, “As a public space that welcomes thousands of visitors every day, we believe safety awareness must extend beyond infrastructure into education and action. Hosting this initiative reflects our commitment to community well-being and our responsibility to support life-saving awareness in collaboration with healthcare and civic partners.”

Highlighting the importance of early education, Manju Sharma noted, “Instilling road safety values at a young age is essential to building a more responsible and empathetic society. When students understand the real-life impact of their choices — whether as pedestrians, passengers or future drivers — they become powerful ambassadors for safer roads and more compassionate communities.”