The Barbados Red Cross provided essential First Aid and
ambulance services on August 26 and 27 when an apartment
block at Bridge Cot, Brittons, Cross Road, St Michael collapsed
going underground and trapping five persons (a man, woman
and their three children).
Three other families living in the apartment building
managed to get out safely and were provided temporary shelter
in nearby schools and churches.
Residents within 500 feet
of the area were also evacuated in the interest of safety.
Edmond Bradshaw, director general, Barbados Red Cross
said the Red Cross provided First Aid services for three
days at the two emergency shelters which were opened at
the nearby church as well as at the site of the disaster.
The bodies of the five persons who were trapped when the
building collapsed were eventually found a few days after
the apartment collapsed.
Bradshaw said the Barbados Red Cross will also be looking
at the possibility of having its volunteers trained in
emergency rescue situations such as earthquakes and fires,
so that they can provide more assistance if the need arises.
| 
