57 get disaster response training

DELSIA HUFFSTEAD, although 70 years old, is showing her community and Jamaica that she has much to contribute and that it is never too late to learn new skills.

Mrs Huffstead is one of 57 persons from several parishes who have been trained in community disaster response techniques.

The eight community disaster response teams (CDRTs), the first of their kind, resulted from the Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO IV), an educational project designed to heighten the awareness, preparedness and response to disasters of community residents.

The training which took place in mostly rural communities which were at risk to disasters, was achieved by agreement between the Jamaica Red Cross, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the Social Development Commission.

"It helped me very much because there are things I didn't understand and I understand them now. It's great to have the training so if there is a disaster, we are active. If anything happens, we can do it," said Mrs Huffstead, who is also the Jamaica Red Cross area chairperson for Balaclava, St. Elizabeth.

"I believe I couldn't take in so much information, but I did. I feel great, like I can really help," she added with a smile during a function to launch the eight CDRTs and present them with tools for the job. The function took place on Saturday, 'World Red Cross/Red Crescent Day', at the national headquarters of the Jamaica Red Cross, Central Village, south central St. Catherine.

HUMAN DIGNITY

The day's theme was,'Stop Discrimination' and it highlights the work of the Jamaica Red Cross, which is aimed at "protecting human dignity".

Selected community members were trained in basic disaster management techniques; quick assessments to prioritise needs and actions to save lives; light search-and-rescue; first aid; HIV/AIDS sensitisation; communication/team work; group dynamics and stress management. Also, the residents had to apply what they learned in a simulation of an earthquake.

For Joshua Davis, a fire-fighter from flood ­ and landslide-prone Yallahs, western St. Thomas, the course was a godsend. He said that before the training, fire-fighters like himself were limited to certain activities although they saw the need for more action.

"Now it helps you to do more than you normally might do and it gives you the respect of the people. The course is really beneficial. It heightens your awareness of so many things that you weren't aware of. It's like it gives you the energy to do more and makes you want to tell others to come," added Mr. Davis, who is also a first aid and light search-and-rescue instructor with the Jamaica Red Cross.

Dorothy Francis, vice-chair of the emergency services section council, added that the trained communities would now have to put together a community and a school disaster programme and test the plans.

She said the Red Cross had identified six communities in the Kingston and St. Andrew-St. Thomas area, which are to benefit from training, beginning later this month. They include New Haven, Bull Bay, Bay Farm Road and Mavis Bank.

*courtesy the Jamaica Gleaner