Teachers being trained in school emergency response

Forty pre-primary to secondary-level educators are being trained on how to handle emergencies that may arise while on their respective school campuses.

Throughout the three-day course, teachers will be trained in how to administer First Aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). They will also undertake basic search-and-rescue techniques as well as age-appropriate techniques to pass on to students.

The training, which began on November 5, has been dubbed the Campus Emergency Response Training (Campus CERT) and is being supported through the Ministry of Education and the Department of Disaster Management (DDM).

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Marcia Potter said Campus CERT facilitates the development of teachers to promote and maintain school-wide safety and minimise the effects of emergencies and other dangerous situations.

“As we have seen, disasters and other emergencies can happen at any time and can cause significant impacts and disruptions. When they happen at schools it can be even more challenging, especially when dealing with young children who can become emotional and scared. The Ministry of Education and Culture has been working with the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) since 2008 to develop a Territory-wide programme to make schools safer, healthier and greener,” she said.

And according to Dr Evangeline Inniss-Springe who is the DDM’s Deputy Director and Campus CERT facilitator, the course delivers a series of practical sessions that are tailored for a school environment.

She said disasters and emergencies are sometimes unpredictable and “understanding how the different hazards behave is the key to saving lives, preventing injuries and protecting property”.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund – more commonly known as UNICEF ­– through the local Adventist Development and Relief Agency is funding the training.

Teachers who complete the training will be provided with a kit of on-hand resources to assist them in applying the skills they have developed through Campus CERT.