EmerReady, a nonprofit founded by Prachetas Yeri, is on a mission to prepare schoolchildren for real-world emergencies. What began as a small hackathon project has evolved into a movement that has already trained more than 1,000 students and distributed hundreds of lifesaving first-aid kits. By combining interactive learning with practical tools, EmerReady is helping children respond with confidence during critical moments when every second counts.
From Hackathon to Human Impact
In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, a team of students built a Python program to detect emotions in online classes. The project analyzed facial expressions to gauge whether students were bored, tired, or engaged. What started as an attempt to win a $20 hackathon prize sparked a larger question: could technology solve urgent, real-world problems?
This curiosity led the team to explore emotion detection in telemedicine and ambulances, where subtle cues are often missed. However, in March 2022, a defining moment shifted everything.
During a walk, founder Prachetas Yeri witnessed an elderly man collapse on the street. Despite desperate calls for help, the ambulance arrived too late. The tragedy highlighted India’s lack of emergency readiness—and inspired Yeri to act.
Founding EmerReady
Soon after, Yeri founded EmerReady , a nonprofit that equips underserved schoolchildren with first-aid training and personal kits. His mission: to ensure kids act with confidence, not panic, during emergencies.
EmerReady partners with government schools and NGOs, offering sessions in local languages. Using storytelling, videos, and live demonstrations, trainers teach practical responses for common emergencies like fainting, burns, bruises, fractures, and animal bites.
Every child receives a compact, sharps-free first-aid kit small enough to fit in a backpack. Schools also get industrial-grade kits to ensure wider access.
Impact So Far
- 1,150+ students trained across 8 schools
- 750+ personal first-aid kits distributed
- 6 industrial-grade kits provided to schools
- A growing team of 10 volunteers expanding reach
Teachers report that the kits have already saved lives, helping during cuts, falls, and fainting episodes. The initiative’s impact is growing far beyond its original scope.
Recognition and Global Reach
EmerReady’s efforts have received national and international recognition.
- Founder Prachetas Yeri represented India at the UN ECOSOC Youth Activate Impact Summit in New York, advocating for first-aid training in global school curriculums.
- The initiative was a finalist at the Namma Bengaluru Awards 2025 in the “Rising Star of the Year” category.
Why It Matters
India spends less than 1.5% of GDP on healthcare. Emergency response times often stretch from 10 to 30 minutes, especially in rural areas. Many lives are lost not because conditions are untreatable but because help doesn’t arrive in time. EmerReady believes children can serve as the first line of response. With basic training and kits, they can bridge the crucial minutes before professional help arrives.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, EmerReady plans to:
- Expand to more schools across India
- Launch self-guided video training modules
- Build a volunteer-driven network for sustainable impact
What began as a hackathon experiment has grown into a movement rooted in empathy and innovation. As Yeri puts it: “Innovation is not just about asking ‘What can I build?’ but ‘What needs to be built?’”
Conclusion
From a simple student project to a lifesaving nonprofit, EmerReady shows how innovation can drive social change. By training children in first aid and equipping them with tools, the initiative is turning India’s youth into confident first responders—proving that even small sparks of curiosity can ignite big change.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information originally published by YourStory. All rights and credits for the original reporting belong to YourStory and the respective author. The content here has been adapted for informational purposes.
