Twenty-two individuals are now better equipped to handle emergencies after undergoing intense training in Community Emergency Response Team ( CERT ) Training for three weeks at the Office of Disaster Management (ODM).
During a closing ceremony at the ODM on Thursday April 13, the individuals received their certificates for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training.
CERT educates individuals about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
This programme also comprises classroom and field exercises.
Chief instructor, Anthony Williams, told participants, “Your ability to clear roads to allow the movement of emergency vehicles to and from medical facilities indicate that our teaching fell on fertile soil.”
Participants were trained in Map reading, basic knot tying, stabilizing injured victims, initial damage assessment and search and rescue among others.
Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Cecil Shillingford, encouraged participants to always be willing to assist in times of disasters as they will be the first responders until professionals arrive on the scene. This was the eighth CERT training course to be completed in Dominica.
