The Artibonite Departmental Directorate of Civil Protection organized a six-day training session for the departmental brigade at the Departmental Emergency Operations Center (COUD) in Morne-Blanc.

This activity is part of the Civil Protection's ongoing efforts to strengthen the operational capacities of this recently created brigade in disaster risk management and reduction, and emergency response.

This training, provided by instructors from the Haitian Red Cross with financial support from the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), focused on risk assessment and first aid, aiming to improve the brigade members' skills so they can respond effectively to emergency situations. She offered them the opportunity to master key risk management concepts and the essential skills needed to assist victims and provide first aid before their transfer to an appropriate healthcare facility.

During this session, the trainers presented the objectives and importance of first aid, emphasizing the crucial role of first responders in protecting lives and strengthening community resilience. Participants were introduced to the PAS principle (Protect, Alert, Rescue), which forms the fundamental basis of any emergency response.

Several topics were covered during this session, including :

- Bone, muscle, and joint injuries;

- Managing an unconscious victim who is choking;

- Managing an unconscious victim who is breathing;

- Respiratory emergencies;

- Wound care and treatment;

- Lifting and stretcher-carrying techniques;

- Emergency preparedness;

- The concepts of Mobile Rescue Unit (MRU), Alert and Transmission Post (ATP), and Rest and Accommodation Unit (RAC);

- The objectives and importance of first aid.

Through practical exercises, demonstrations, and the sharing of experiences, the volunteers were able to strengthen their first aid skills and acquire the necessary reflexes to provide rapid, effective, and appropriate assistance to victims before the arrival of healthcare professionals.

At the end of the training, the instructors encouraged participants to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice and to continue participating in future capacity-building sessions. This approach aims to increase their level of preparedness and improve their response capacity to various emergency situations that may affect their communities.

HL/ HaitiLibre