Participants carry out a rescue mission, during a five-day Water Rescue Training and Equipment Course in Freeport, Grand Bahama from April 16 – 20, 2012. The course was conducted by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in conjunction with the United States Northern Command, the United States Embassy and the United States Public Health Services. (Photo/NEMA)

Freeport, Grand Bahama - The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in conjunction with the United States Northern Command, the United States Embassy and the United States Public Health Services conducted a five-day Water Rescue Training and Equipment Course in Freeport, Grand Bahama from April 16 – 20, 2012.

Purpose of the exercise was to train and equip 10 individuals on Grand Bahama to effectively respond to a disaster in nearby waters. The training placed special emphasis on water rescue in the event an aircraft crashes near an airport.

Participants were officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force Marine Division, the Port Authority, Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) the Bahamas Red Cross and Emergency Medical Services.

Participants were awarded certificates following completion of a five-day Water Rescue Training and Equipment Course in Freeport, Grand Bahama from April 16 – 20, 2012. The course was conducted by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in conjunction with the United States Northern Command, the United States Embassy and the United States Public Health Services. (Photo/NEMA)

The topics covered during the exercise were: site survey and risk analysis, personal protective and team equipment, panic, survival, self-rescue & personal safety, swim test, understanding flood hydrology, developing search parameters and procedures, using water rescue rope throw bags, medical consideration of water victims and other skills.

This particular Water Rescue Training and Equipment Programme is the second in a three-part series scheduled for the islands of Grand Bahama, Abaco and New Providence. 

An estimated $49,932 worth of equipment was donated to Abaco and Grand Bahama to date by the United States Government to assist with shoreline water rescue.

Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA thanked the US Northern Command representative John Smith and the instructors from the US Public Health Services for the equipment and their participation as course instructors.

He also encouraged the participants to continue to train and utilise the skills, which they were taught during the training course. And, reminded them that they will be called upon to assist the community in times of a disaster and to be prepared to do so.