The Saudi Red Crescent Authority in the Eastern Region, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development branch in the region, carried out a mock emergency drill on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as part of the “Mua'ath Project” aimed at improving emergency preparedness and response in workplace environments. The drill was conducted at the Labor Office in Dammam.

Dr. Khalid bin Radi Al-Enezi, Director General of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority in the Eastern Region, explained that the drill was part of ongoing efforts to enhance workplace readiness in dealing with cardiac arrest and to raise the level of emergency safety within office settings. The exercise aimed to train Labor Office employees on the proper use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and how to provide immediate response to cases of cardiac and respiratory arrest through CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), bridging the critical time gap before Red Crescent teams arrive.

The goal is to ensure that retrieving and deploying an AED within the workplace takes no more than 2 to 4 minutes, and to confirm that a designated ambulance parking space is available to allow easy access to the patient and prompt transfer to the ambulance.

Dr. Al-Enezi added that the drill followed a series of training sessions organized by the Authority for Labor Office employees in Dammam, focusing on the use of AEDs and basic first aid skills, including CPR and emergency response techniques.

He praised the success of the drill, thanking the Eastern Region branch of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development for their cooperation and initiative in installing AED devices and empowering their staff to respond effectively to cardiac arrest situations. He emphasized the importance of such preparedness in protecting employee health and safety in the event of an emergency—God forbid.