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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bahamas Information Services Updates
Nassau, The Bahamas – The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and the United States Northern Command conducted an intense water rescue training exercise in New Bight, Cat Island to better prepare residents to respond to any disaster at sea. The island was the first to receive training in Phase II of the Water Rescue Training exercise which was held March 3 to 6, 2014. Phase I of the training was held on the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence between the months of March – May, 2012. Purpose of the training was to equip a team of individuals on the island to be able to effectively respond to a disaster in nearby waters. However, NEMA’s main focus for this particular water rescue training was to ensure that individuals in the community were properly trained to respond if an aircraft crash or boating mishap occurred in waters near the coast.
The 15 participants received training in: establishing a search and rescue programme, common skills (rescue organisation & searches), using ropes, hardware and knots, low angle raising and lowering, simple mechanical advantage, and surface water rescue (shore based rescue assessments, organisation and searches). Participants were: Peggy Johnson, Department of Environment Health; Joan Zonicle, Department of Public Health; Madlyn Stubbs, Department of Civil Aviation; Mandy Major, Department, Civil Aviation; Kevin Burrows, Department of Environmental Health; Monica Rolle, Royal Bahamas Police Force; Preston McCoy, Royal Bahamas Police Force; Duke Moss, local fisherman; Jovarn Burrows, Department Civil Aviation; Lechristo Lesbott, Royal Bahamas Police Force; Ricardo Ferguson Sr., Department of Environmental Health; Nathaniel Gilbert, volunteer; Lynette Storr, volunteer; Rose Saunders, Department Public Health; and Kendal Butler, Royal Bahamas Police Force. The USNORTHCOM donated the equipment to facilitate the training and additional equipment to assist rescue teams with responding to disasters near the coast or swamplands. The class instructors were Certified Water and Rope Rescue Technicians from the United States Public Health Services sponsored by USNORTHCOM. Leading the team was Captain Joseph Hughart and assisting were Captain John Holland, Commander Douglas Ebert, and Lieutenant Commander Kiel Fisher. Senior Lieutenant Sonia Miller and Wendell Rigby from NEMA helped with the facilitation of the training. Captain Russell, Island Administrator Jackson McIntosh and James Smith USNORTHCOM Representative presented participants with their certificates. Captain Russell encouraged the new rescue team to continue to work together and practice what they were taught to further strengthen their ability to respond to a disaster. He also thanked participants for having the courage to take part in the training and committing themselves to take on such a meaningful task. Overall, the Training and Equipment Programme was deemed a success by facilitators, instructors and participants. Water Rescue Training is scheduled to take place in Clarence Town, Long Island from March 31 to April 4, 2014 and in North Andros from April 28 to May 2, 2014. The total value of equipment to be donated by USNORTHCOM for Phase II Water Rescue Training is $275,548.75.
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