Firefighters Take Part in Water Rescue Training

Forty firefighters from the parishes of St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth and Trelawny have completed an intensive water rescue training programme.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Area 4, was driven by the increasing risks posed by climate change.

It is part of a broader effort to equip firefighters with specialised skills to handle extreme weather-related incidents.

“We saw it fit to conduct an assessment and engage the relevant stakeholders, both internally and externally, to provide the necessary training to our staff to ensure that they have the competence to respond to a myriad of incidents that might occur within our area,” Acting Assistant Commissioner, JFB, Conroy Ghans, who oversees Area 4, told JIS News.

He noted that emanating from those considerations, a special operations team was formed for Area 4.

The water rescue training, which took place in two cohorts during July and August, was conducted for a total of 10 days at Chukka Eco-Adventure Outpost at Good Hope in Trelawny.

The training had a theoretical and practical component.

It covered both swift water rescue, involving turbulent and rapidly moving water, and static water rescue for calm bodies of water like oceans, lakes and pools.

“To ensure sustainability in the training programme, we mandated the special operations team to ensure that every training that is done at the area level is replicated by the divisional or parish level. So, each division or parish will have their own special operations team,” Mr. Ghans noted.

He further indicated that there will be regular training, practice and scenarios to ensure that the skill levels are maintained and improved.

Meanwhile, Programme Coordinator, Acting Assistant Superintendent, Tangeni Francis, said that the water rescue training has improved the image of the JFB.

“As a department, it provides comfort knowing that we are able to respond to a myriad of needs for the public. We are the only agency that is entrusted with the responsibility to provide these kinds of services,” he added.

At the end of the overall training programme, which is to be completed this year, participants will receive certification.