Eleuthera Bahamas – From February 23rd through 26th, South Eleuthera Emergency Partners (SEEP) hosted training for ambulance volunteers at its Tarpum Bay location. This training was sponsored in part by SEEP itself, One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and the Health Association of Eleuthera (HACE).
During the four day training, participants acquired knowledge and skills administered through lectures and hands on activity delivered by instructors Brian Evans and Cedrick Cash of the Public Hospitals Authority Emergency Medical Service in New Providence.
Emergency First Responders (EMR) and Emergency Vehicle Operations (EVOC) were among the courses delivered. EMR consisted of training in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid and management of various injuries. During EVOC, participants learned how to identify various parts of the ambulance and how to properly drive and maintain the vehicle.
Multiple departments on the island worked together to make this training happen. These included government officials, police officers, doctors and nurses.
Participants in the exercise came from across several departments on the Island.
One of the most interesting and important parts of the training occurred on Thursday February 26, where a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) was staged between Tarpum Bay and Rock Sound. The incident involved a collision between a car and bus. Trainees were able to use the skills that they learned throughout the week to quickly respond to the scene. Onlookers driving by gawked in terror as they thought this incident actually occurred.
At the end of it all, 7 SEEP volunteers and 4 HACE volunteers successfully completed training. The majority of participants were able to receive certifications in both EMR and EVOC.
“The EMR program was a success and the students were very eager to learn how to operate and handle the ambulance in a professional manner”, said trainer Cedrick Cash.
“This training was a great opportunity to teach community minded individuals the importance of responsible and timely emergency care and to ensure that our community consists of persons well equipped to act in times of emergency”, said Kenwood Cartwright, Vice President of SEEP.
South Eleuthera Emergency Partners (SEEP) is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization created to provide fire and medical emergency transportation services, as well as outreach programs to the communities of South Eleuthera. For more information on this and other SEEP activities call 242-334-4630.
