Taking the headache out of taxis

"Over the years, South Africans have supported Grand-Pa, making it one of the country's favourite brands, and we wanted to give something back," says GSK MD, Heribert Voss.

The first aid kits will be bolted opposite the passenger door, and will contain basic equipment such as bandages and burn salve.

The initiative, which Grand-Pa intends to make an annual project, kicked off on 21 August 2006, aiming to fit 1000 taxis in ten ranks in Gauteng - 20 a day for five days, at each of the ten ranks coordinated by ComutaNet.

As part of the initiative, taxi drivers will also receive basic first aid training by qualified first aid professionals: how to put gloves on and take them off safely, how to staunch bleeding, dress wounds and assess the accident scene when calling for emergency assistance - the type of intervention that could save lives while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

The box will also contain a basic first aid reference booklet and a list of emergency telephone numbers.

"We recognise that basic first aid training to accompany the kits is also a priority; therefore we have invested in providing the drivers with as much support as we can offer," says Voss.

The Safer Taxis for South Africa initiative is endorsed by the Taxi Association and the Department of Transport. It has also allegedly been welcomed by the taxi drivers themselves, who are eager to enhance the image of the service they provide to so many South Africans every day. As it stands, the ten targeted ranks serve 3.2 million commuters each day.

Says director of Arrive Alive, Ntau Letebele: "We fully support this initiative to make vehicle safety a priority in this country. Every contribution counts and with the help of good corporate citizens such as Grand-Pa, we can make this nation's roads safer for all."