NASSAU, The Bahamas – The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in conjunction with the United States Northern Command NORTHCOM, conducted a water rescue training course and equipment programme from May 14 – 17, 2012 at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base, Coral Harbour.
The purpose of the exercise was to train and equip individuals in New Providence to effectively respond to a disaster in surrounding waters; and to establish a search and rescue programme.
It was the third in a three-part training course and equipment programme conducted on the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence. An estimated $75,000 worth of equipment have been donated to those islands by the United States Government, to assist with water rescue missions.
Participants were 14 individuals from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Airport Authority who underwent training in water rescue in the event an aircraft crashes near an airport.
The topics covered during the training sessions included: site survey and risk analysis, personal protective and team equipment, panic, survival, self-rescue and personal safety, swim test, pre-rescue planning, boat-assisted and boat-based rescue operation, medical procedures, amongst other things.
The team trained in Lake Killarney, where they became more familiar with the surrounding area and identified possible challenges they might face should a disaster occur.
The instructors were four certified water and rope rescue technicians from the United States Public Health Services.
By Lindsay Thompson
BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES
CAPTION:
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and the United States Northern Command, NORTHCOM, conducted a water rescue-training programme May 14-17, 2012 at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base, Coral Harbour. Pictured amongst the participants, seated from left to right are: Lt. Cdr. Samuel Wartell, US Navy; Cdr Needley Martinborough, Royal Bahamas Defence Force Operations Officer; Captain Stephen Russell, Director NEMA; Captain Tellis Bethel, Deputy Commander, Royal Bahamas Defence Force; Jeffrey Smith, USNORTHCOM; Lt. Cdr. Frederick Brown, Royal Bahamas Defence Force Training Officer. (BIS Photo/Kris Ingraham)
