Efforts are afoot to make sure that the job description of firefighters of the Barbados Fire Service is in accordance with international firefighting requirements.
On this regard, as a part of the training of new fire officers, they are going to now be required to grow to be Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Chief Fire officer, Errol Maynard made that revelation yesterday after a service on the Bethel Methodist Church, Bay Street, The City to mark Fire Service Week.
“Every firefighter internationally, as a matter of fact, the necessities for firefighting within the industry is that every one firefighters should actually be EMTs and we’re constructing out that ensuring that we are able to function on the international level. So, we are actually ensuring we bridge that gap,” Maynard said.
The introduction of EMT courses, which commenced several years ago, is an ongoing initiative designed to extend emergency response capabilities. That is along with a search and rescue and water rescue that every one recruits undertake as a part of their initial programme. Maynard’s comments were supported by Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, who while speaking at the identical event, noted that as a serious tourist destination it was essential to make sure that the best level of fireplace and lifesaving service, much like what is anticipated within the homeland of the tourists, is present in Barbados.
The present path of coaching, Abrahams noted, would also serve to mediate the necessity for the spiralling demand for pre-hospital care on the island.
He continued: “What this implies is that if you’ve gotten an emergency and the ambulance can’t get to you and the Fire Service can, various our fire officers . . . the aim is for all, can actually render the identical service that the ambulance personnel render to stabilize you, to make sure that you get to the hospital in pretty much as good shape as you’ll be able to and possibly to save lots of your life. All of that is facilitated through the recruiting programme, which in just a few months will see an extra 20 recruits passing out with that level of certification.
“As best practices evolve worldwide, it’s my view that the service has to maintain up-to-date, whether or not it’s emergency medical technician or one other area of activity, opportunities for continuous skilled development must proceed to be made available to all members of the Barbados Fire Service if the organisation is to grow to be and to stay world-class. I challenge you to hunt to develop a few of one of the best practices for other countries to emulate, allow us to be the premier fire service not only within the Caribbean but on this hemisphere,” Abrahams maintained.
Fire Service Week is that this yr recognised under the theme: “Resilience, Renewal, Reconnecting and Retooling” and can be celebrated with a series of scaled-down events including a medal presentation to 84 officers on Friday, visits throughout the community throughout the week and climaxes with a resilience fair in Bush Hall, St. Michael.
Referencing the theme, the Minister reiterated the service’s deal with improved infrastructure, human resources and skilled development, complemented by the same deal with physical resources. He also gave an update on the work that has began on the ultramodern complex which can house the Barbados fire station, the fireplace service and emergency ambulance service headquarters, it would even be the house of the state-of-the-art dispatch centre and the fireplace prevention and code enforcement unit of the Barbados Fire Service. Moreover, he noted the Service had launched into a fleet alternative programme to make sure that the present ageing fleet of vehicles were systematically and strategically replaced they usually were currently pursuing phase 3 of the development of a contemporary mechanical workshop to service and maintain the fleet of vehicles to a state of readiness.
On top of that, work was ongoing on the Barbados Port to finish housing for the port side station. This may allow the fireplace service to more effectively manage and reply to the impact of the various hazards and risks related to the port activities either onshore or onboard vessels. Moreover, Abrahams underscored the importance of getting such a facility as Barbados’ port currently handles cargo and cruise passengers. And he revealed that it was within the pipeline to extend the usage of the port for home porting activities which might mean increased traffic. He contended that having a station on the port will even provide the chance to observe the protection of patrons within the nearby swimming areas.
“As a way to ensure successful operations, enhanced stakeholder engagements, constructing of relationships, fostering cooperation and cross-agency training, this stuff can be needed,” Abrahams added.
(KC)
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