British Virgin Islands

Prev    Next BVI emergency responders trained in search and rescue techniques Published on Thursday, July 16, 2009 Email To Friend    Print Version Participants at The Department of Disaster Management training course (Photos courtesy of DDM) TORTOLA, BVI -- The Department of Disaster Management conducted a two-day course from 13-14 July on Search Techniques and Considerations to enhance the British Virgin Islands' search and rescue skills within the Public Sector. The course was designed to instruct responder level personnel in proven methods of preparing for and conducting an organised search and rescue effort for lost, missing or entrapped persons. It also provided a forum for information sharing and the exchange of ideas among participants. Through the technical guidance of instructor Leonard Ron Mobley, a retired firefighter and paramedic, participants were exposed to specific issues to be considered in the event of a search and rescue operation including search patterns. The techniques used were applicable both at the national and regional levels. Police search training Fourteen participants benefited from the course. They consisted of representatives from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services. This continued effort to address this critical capacity gap within the government of the Virgin Islands was made possible with support and technical input from the Earthquake Readiness Capacity Building Project, funded by the Austrian Government and managed by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA). The government of Austria is providing support to at risk CDERA Participating States, including the Virgin Islands, under the Capacity-Building for Programming in Comprehensive Disaster Management in the areas of benchmarking their earthquake preparedness capacity, enhancing earthquake contingency plans including Search and Rescue and promoting earthquake awareness.   Reads : 550   Prev    Next

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