Urban Search And Rescue Training Course Ends

Efforts are underway to establish search and rescue teams in all CDERA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency) states and the Barbados Fire Service is playing its part. Two fire officers recently participated in the Urban Search and Rescue Light Level training course.

The training programme was held at the Barbados Defence Force base at Paragon in Christ Church. The course saw 21 participants from five CDERA territories - Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago participating in the vigorous four day exercise.

A number of successful participants from the training course are expected to be selected to train others in the region. The participants from this programme will form the nucleus of the national search and rescue teams in their respective countries.

The programme is a collaborative partnership between CDERA and OFDA (Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance) a department of the United States Agency for International Development.