BRADES, Montserrat – Members of first responder teams including the police and fire service, doctors and nurses are participating in a new series of courses to bring the islands emergency practitioners up to international standards.
The course design was spearheaded by the Montserrat Fire Service through its Chief Fire Officer Andre West. Funding for the course is through the Governor’s Office Delegated Funds and the Human Resources Management Unit (HRMU) Training Division.
A fire officer from Anguilla is also attending the course which was open to emergency personnel in the Overseas Territories.
The main instructor is Jeffrey Gilliard, President and CEO of Emergency Education and Technology Systems (EMETS) in Rockledge, Florida. He said the aim is to train local participants and empower them with the skills to deliver quality and effective emergency support at the highest standard. Additional instruction is being provided by David Sweeney, a Paramedic and Emergency Responder Trainer with more than 20 years of experience in the USVI.
Chief Fire Officer Andre West said this week’s session is the first in a series of courses to enable Montserrat to improve the capabilities of its emergency teams. He added that the goal is for the island to have eight local instructors who can continue to train other personnel.
The participants who successfully complete this course will be able to take the International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) and the ITLS Paediatrics’ course starting on March 30 until April 2.
Commissioner of Police Steve Foster who has responsibility for the fire service said the course comes on the heels of the February national disaster exercise and continues his department’s mission to improve its delivery to the public.
