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Forty firefighters from St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St Elizabeth and Trelawny parishes completed an intensive water rescue training programme.
The initiative, led by the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) Region 4, is aimed at addressing the increasing risks posed by climate change.
It’s part of a broader effort to equip firefighters with specialized skills to handle extreme weather-related incidents.
Conroy Ghans, Acting Assistant Commissioner of the JFB, which oversees Region 4, told JIS News: “We felt it was necessary to undertake an assessment and engage relevant stakeholders both internally and externally to provide our staff with the necessary training to ensure they are equipped to respond to the full range of incidents that may occur within our region.”
He pointed out that with these considerations, a special operations team was formed for Region 4.
The water rescue training was conducted in two batches over a total of 10 days in July and August at the Chukka Eco Adventure Outpost in Goodhope, Trelloni.
The training includes both theoretical and practical components.
It covers both turbulent water rescues (involving turbulent and fast-moving water) as well as static water rescues in calm waters such as oceans, lakes and ponds.
“To ensure sustainability of the training programme, we have asked the task force to ensure that every training conducted at the district level is replicated at the division or parish level. So, each division or parish will have its own task force,” Mr Gans pointed out.
He further said that regular training, exercises and scenario simulations will be conducted to ensure that skill levels are maintained and improved.
Meanwhile, the project coordinator, Acting Assistant Superintendent Tangeni Francis, said the water rescue training raised the profile of the Japanese Fire Department.
“We feel comfortable knowing that as a department we are able to cater to the various needs of the public. We are the only agency entrusted with providing such services,” he added.
The entire training program will be completed this year, and trainees will receive a certificate upon completion of the training.
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