A two-week session of training took place between October 21st and 26th, at the Department of Disaster Management headquarters where local Red Cross volunteers were more efficiently trained by two St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross National Society volunteer trainers. These trainers, Ms. Vercelette Molyneaux and Ms. Roxanne Brookes, are both certified Red Cross officers supporting the Anguilla Red Cross’s (ARC’s) capacity building initiative.
According to the Programmes Department of the ARC, the unit continues to prepare for responses to unforeseen circumstances and disasters. The ARC is now adding Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training to the list of a recent series of training.
A representative from the Programme’s Department noted: “One of the key roles of the Red Cross and Red Cross Crescent Movement, throughout the world, is to prepare for and respond to disasters when they occur, and to work with communities and individuals to help them build their resilience with the aim of achieving safer communities. As the ARC continues to pursue this aim, we believe that it is imperative that our volunteers be adequately trained in order to maintain a strong presence in Anguilla’s community.”
In highlighting the importance of the role of EMRs, it was noted that EMRs are one of the critical human resources established to combat and mitigate the chaos in such crises. As the context of an emergency is variable, EMRs do not only provide care on an ambulance, but at a multiplicity of settings. Therefore, implementing more EMR training on Anguilla improves our community response as volunteers acquire advanced life-saving skills. Moreover, having more skilled EMR personnel on the island fosters community resilience.
On the behalf of the Anguilla Red Cross Chapter, ARC’s Programmes Department expresses gratitude to the visiting trainers from St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross National Society whose visit and work here were made possible by the British Red Cross Resiliency Programme. It was stated that once the training is completed, the local volunteers will be equipped with knowledge and life-saving skills to respond professionally in the event of any disaster. Being so equipped, they would be able to readily support community events as well as family and friends gatherings — positioned to be the first responders in the event of life threatening tragedies.
Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
