First responders finish training

A lot of people look forward to Friday nights for the chance to attend an extended happy hour or just flop in front of the television after a hard week’s work. But 13 people who live in North Sound Estates chose to spend nine Friday nights learning how to assist their neighbours in the event of a hurricane or another disaster. 

The nine women and four men will be honoured at a graduation ceremony on 19 May as the first Community Emergency Response Team to complete the course work organised through Hazard Management Cayman Islands. McCleary Frederick, HazMan director, listed topics covered in their training: disaster preparedness, vulnerability assessment, fire safety, damage assessment after a disaster, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, first aid and CPR. 

Other areas that have expressed interest are Pease Bay and Belford Estates. Mr. Frederick noted that all three of these neighbourhoods are in Bodden Town, but they are different teams because they are three different geographical neighbourhoods. Trained community teams are the first responders when their area is physically cut off from the rest of Grand Cayman, he said. 

The ideal situation would be for every neighbourhood to have such a team. Six people would be the minimum number, he indicated. 

North Sound Estates resident Keysha Wynn expressed appreciation to everyone who had been involved in the training of her team in a classroom at the International College of the Cayman Islands in Newlands. “I would like to say ‘Thank you’ to members of Hazard Management, the fire department and Red Cross who provided us with lifetime skills and information which will benefit us individually and collectively,” she said. 

“The training sessions were well-taught and presented. In sacrificing two hours of my Friday evenings for several weeks, I knew I would be learning; but I never expected to have so much fun. Most importantly, I got to know and appreciate my fellow community members who participated in the course. I would encourage any and all community members to participate in this invaluable training programme,” Ms Wynn said. 

The Community Emergency Response Team for North Sound Estates is made up of course members: Samantha Ewer, Andre Morgan, George Thomas, Anderson Skinner, Keysha Wynn, Phyllis Douglas, Renise Peters, Amoy Williams, Austin Williams, Suzette Stewart, Patricia Marsh, Katherine Whittaker, David Lewis, Brenda Dawkins and Shalyse Reddicks. 

Training sessions need not be on Friday nights. 

North Side residents are scheduled to begin their training on Wednesday, 23 May. Team leader Teddy Ebanks said the district, with its miles-long coastline, consists of numerous little communities which could be cut off from each other by a severe storm. He is asking residents from each area to form teams. Emergencies are stressful times, so it makes sense that first responders should be people known in the area, he said. 

Anyone interested in forming or being on a Community Emergency Response Team should contact the Hazard Management Office, 945-4624, or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]