Law enforcement officers receive ‘treatment in disaster’ training

Fifty law enforcement officers recently completed a certified Emergency Care and Treatment in Disasters Course facilitated by the Virgin Islands Public Service Learning Institute (VIPSLI).

The one-week World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) training presented a 13-part series that provided training for administering life-saving measures in an emergency. The training was conducted by PAHO instructor and a retired officer of the Barbados Defense Force, Peter Burges.

A media release from the Office of the Governor said training entailed the offering of skills on delivering emergency medical care and treatment in a nonhospital environment and allowed individuals to gain an understanding of different vital systems in the human body.

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, stated that the completion of the training is key to ensuring that law enforcement in the Virgin Islands is on par with international standards and recommendations from the Review of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice bodies in the British Virgin Islands.

DaBreo-Lettsome said, “These law enforcement agencies are the territory’s first responders. It is vital that we ensure they receive the necessary training to adequately respond to medical needs in the event of an emergency. Training like these increases our ability to adequately respond and save lives in those critical minutes following a disaster or emergency.”

“The completion of the one-week training marks the first step in a series that will provide law enforcement officers across the territory with the basic skills and training necessary to attend to the immediate needs of persons in the event of an emergency or disaster,” the press release added.

These law enforcement officers included the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Service, His Majesty’s Customs and BVI Airports Authority and the Immigration Department.