NATIONAL OFFICE OF DISASTER SERVICES

Thirteen individuals in Barbuda completed a one-week training to establish a team of persons on the sister-isle as first responders.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, which prepares persons to be better equipped to handle emergencies in the community until help arrives, covered first aid, basic search and rescue, emergency telecommunications, basic map reading and people to people techniques.

A five-member delegation made up of personnel from the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), the Fire Department and St John Ambulance Association facilitated the workshop. Participants, who were drawn from a number of sectors on the sister-isle, also engaged in practical exercises which tested their grasp of the information presented.

Adounisha Henry, a teacher at the Preschool in Barbuda, said this was her first disaster management training. “For me, I found it was very beneficial, I learnt a lot, in terms of first aid, how to assess the scene, in terms of any mass casualty event.  Henry further speaks of how the training can help the community. “It would be a great benefit since we depend on ourselves because we don’t have major facilities or we can’t get help as quick as we would want. We have to rely on boats and planes, to and fro from Antigua and Barbuda, so it would be very hectic. So if we were better trained, have more facilities, more equipment, we would be able to manage what we have”, said Henry.

Deputy Director of NODS Sherrod James, who was one of the facilitators, said it’s important that NODS builds on the foundation that has now been laid. “This is just the start. Support the disaster office in its efforts”, said James.

Another facilitator Anderson Tuitt from the Fire Department was happy to see a number of young people involved and urged others to be part of the disaster management programme . “We are willing to come and carry out training. I hope to hear of good things coming out of Barbuda”, said Tuitt. The participants were presented with CERT kits that are equipped with a number of emergency response aids.