Search and Rescue team gets training

Residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) can look forward to greater assistance from police officers who respond to the call for help whenever there are vehicular accidents resulting in injuries.{{more}}

Nineteen Officers from the local constabulary, including the fire department, the Special Services Unit and Traffic, as well as one member of staff of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) are now trained in Medical First Responders, Vehicle Extrication and Incident Command Systems, as part of a process to establish an Urban Search and Rescue Unit within the Fires Service. The Training Workshops took place at NEMO’s Conference Room during the period August 3-15, 2009.

The series of training courses was organized by the NEMO in collaboration with the RSVG Police Force, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Urban Search and Rescue training commenced on the 3rd of August, 2009, with a forty hour Medical First Responder course. The Medical First Responder course instructed participants in the basic skills and knowledge needed to provide medical care and treatment to sick or injured persons in a pre-hospital environment. This included training in CPR, splinting, dressing and dealing with different wounds, among other things.

During the period Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th, August, 2009, participants received training in vehicle extrication. The Vehicle Extrication course instructed participants in the basic skills and knowledge needed to safely remove entangled or entrapped injured persons from a motor vehicle accident. This training was hands on and was done at the Punnett’s Scrap Yard in Pembroke. Here participants learnt the different techniques involved in extricating trapped and injured persons from vehicles involved in motor vehicular collision. This also included the scene size up and making the decision as to the method of extrication.

The vehicle extrication course was done using simple tools such as wipers to break glass to gain entry into the vehicle, a cutlass and hammer to cut out windscreens, and a hydraulic spreader-cutter (When an occupant is trapped the tool is used to pry or cut the vehicle to remove the occupant). It can be used to take the doors and roof off the vehicle in a short space of time). Participants also learnt to use the reciprocating saw (sawzall) which can also be used to do a number of different things.

The third leg of the training was an Incident Command System Training which commenced on Thursday 13th and ended on Saturday 15th August, 2009. The Incident Command System (ICS) course instructed participants in the required command and control structure for responding to emergencies and disasters. The ICS is a proven tool for organization of resources and personnel at large events. The ICS has been adopted world wide, allowing for a continuous flow of organization requirements when outside resources are called upon.

Director of The National Emergency Management Organization Howie Prince stated that the training was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), at a cost of US$37,000. Prince stated that the purpose of the training was the development of an Urban Search and Rescue Response Unit within the Fire Service, as part of the ongoing process of improving disaster response capabilities and enhancing local capabilities for search and rescue for day to day and disaster responses. The formation of this new unit will, without question, increase the chance for survivability of victims and, therefore, save lives that otherwise may be lost.

The goal of the training courses was to provide participants with a basic foundation of knowledge and skills that will be required by the Urban Search and Rescue Unit personnel. After completion of these training courses, participants are now able to provide medical care to injured persons, safely extricate entrapped persons from a motor vehicle accident and organize the command and control structure required to respond to an emergency or disaster.

The Medical First Responder and the Vehicle Extrication Training was conducted by Ron Mobley, a retired Search and Rescue Instructor from Miami Dade County with thirty (30) years of experience and Dwayne Strawn of St. Croix Rescue with Twenty Five (25) years of experience. The Incident Command System training was conducted by Ron Mobley with support from Director, Disaster Management, BVI, Sharleen Dabreo.

The Staff of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and EOC Volunteers were also trained to support interagency Search and Rescue (SAR) response efforts during times of severe national disasters. This training took place during the period Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th August, 2009. The facilitator for this training was Director, Disaster Management, BVI, Sharleen Dabreo.