The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) held a basic first aid training on Friday, July 1, 2011. A total of 16 participants including public officers, domestic workers, students, security officers and dive masters of San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker took part in the training. Three facilitators were from the Belize Coast Guard and the Belize Defense Force, Chief Mitchell Garbutt, Lcpl. Belisle and Sgt. Rivers.
The purpose of the training was to share knowledge about First Aid to community leaders and for them to acquire basic skills essential in reducing vulnerabilities to everyday occurrences or accidents to save life and to prevent the casualty’s condition from becoming worse.
Participants were provided with training information and tools and indoctrinated on the proper procedures to render basic first aid at home, work, school or the community. They were exposed to the system of Aims of First Aid, Responsibilities of the First Aider, Principles of First Aid, Type of Wounds, Type of Fractures, CPR Adults, CPR Practical, Shock and Heat.
For some of the participants the training course was a refresher course while for others it was their first exposure to such training. Familiarizing and being comfortable with the procedure and technique used in performing and giving CPR was very essential and all participants took the course seriously.
Most of the participants commented that the training was worth the time because; it has created more awareness in them. They now know what to do in the event that someone is being affected or hurt at home, school, work place, or in the street, especially during emergency/disaster.
According to NEMO personnel there will be a follow up training for interested participants to get certified in Basic First Aid and search and rescue. A four-day search and rescue training will be done in early August. This training will be geared towards the formation of two rescue teams who will be able to assist NEMO in responding to emergencies or disaster and when NEMO is activated. The teams, when formed, will be one for Caye Caulker and one for San Pedro Town.
