NASSAU, The Bahamas - The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, conducted a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training workshop, teaching lifesaving skills to a group of individuals on New Providence.

The workshop was held March 22 to 27, 2021, ending with a simulated exercise on the grounds of NEMA and the nearby area. Scenarios called for participants to transfer what they learned in the event real-life disasters were to occur.

During the week-long workshop the participants engaged in putting out small fires, how to conduct light search and rescue operations, CPR techniques, understanding Incident Command Systems and other life-saving skills. Instructors were members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Cabinet Office and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

NEMA has conducted CERT training throughout the Family Islands over the years with its partners; the US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The CERT programme seeks to train individuals to be better prepared to respond to local events in their communities. Such skills would enable them to give immediate assistance to victims, organize volunteers at a disaster site and assist with community safety awareness initiatives.

Photos show the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training workshop underway.   (BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)