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.

8th Annual Fire Cadet Graduation Ceremony

The Junior Fire Cadet Programme of the Barbados Fire Service ended yesterday with a parade and awards ceremony. The programme, which is in its eighth year concluded with a graduation ceremony for the 21 fire cadets at the Arch Hall Fire Station, St. Thomas.

Twenty-one participants, aged 13 to 15 years were introduced to elements of fire response, which included hose and hydrant drill, ladder drill, lines and knots, fire prevention, fire extinguishers, squad drill and first aid. The fire cadets also participated in water safety training taught by the Barbados Coast Guard.

During his feature address at the graduation ceremony Acting Principal Youth Development Officer with the Ministry of Youth Affairs Ivor Worrell encouraged the fire cadets to show respect for the essential services. Mr. Worrell indicated that quite often persons showed disrespect to emergency service personnel while they are carrying out their duties. He expressed concern about the failure of many motorists to allow free traffic flow to emergency vehicles while enroute to emergencies.

Acting Chief Fire Officer Anthony Blackman while delivering the CFO's Address thanked the corporate sponsors for their financial support and encouraged other organisations to join in supporting the Fire Cadet Programme. The Fire Chief reminded those gathered of the numerous benefits of the five week training programme to the fire cadets and the community.

Fire Station Tours Popular With Summer Camps

Fire Station tours continue to be a popular stop for children attending the annual summer camps around the island. Yesterday, 53 children accompanied by four adults from the Passage Road Community Summer Camp visited Fire Service Headquarters, Probyn Street, Bridgetown.

The educational tour provided an opportunity for the children to learn about the role of the fire service and to see up close the emergency equipment and fire appliances used by fire officers on a daily basis.

From all reports the children had a wonderful time, some of the activities enjoyed by the infants involved the viewing of fire appliances, activating the sirens and also flashing the beacons. A video presentation on fire safety was also shown to expose the little ones to the basic safety concepts.

More than 25 summer camps, with well over 1000 children have toured Fire Service Headquarters within the last six weeks.