Training for emergencies helps the Cayman Islands be ready for life-threatening and disaster situations.
Being prepared is essential for public bodies as well as private companies and organisations. Several training programmes are available on-island, including the following:
Cayman Islands Airports Authority
To comply with international standards, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority stages a full-scale emergency exercise at both Owen Roberts International Airport and Charles Kirkconnell International Airport every two years. This is to test the ability of airport staff and emergency response agencies to work together to form an organised response to save lives and limit damage to property in the event of an aviation disaster.
CF School
CF School offers full first aid certification, with its course divided into two parts. The first is an online component which contains the academic side of the course and can be completed in a participant’s own time at home. The second part is the practical side, and is completed in person, lasting approximately two hours.
Email [email protected] for more information.
CPR and Respiratory Cayman
Owned and run by Melissa Shaw, CPR and Respiratory Cayman offers first aid CPR/AED training to both medical and non-medical professionals. Melissa spent 18 years as a respiratory therapist at the Health Services Authority, where one of her roles included being a member of the cardiac arrest team. Prior to that, she worked at a trauma hospital and high-risk neonatal intensive care unit. The company is also a retailer of automated external defibrillators, medical equipment and accessories.
Email [email protected] for information on training options.
Fitness Connection
Fitness Connection offers a variety of certifications and specialty courses throughout the year. These include:
- The American Safety and Health Institute CPR and AED course
- The Starfish Aquatic Institute Safety Training Aquatic Rescue Course
- The Starguard Lifeguard Certification
The minimum recommended age for any of these courses is 14.
Email [email protected] for more information.
Hazard Management Cayman Islands
Hazard Management Cayman Islands offers a comprehensive range of training, presentations, and exercises designed to enhance public awareness and preparedness for all hazards that pose a risk to the territory. These presentations are adaptable for businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions from primary to tertiary level.
Training offerings include:
- All-Hazards and Preparedness Presentation – covering key threats with a focus on hurricane preparedness.
- Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness Presentation – addressing seismic risks and protective actions.
Hazard Management also facilitates training for Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs). These teams receive a 16-hour course covering fire safety, light search-and-rescue, disaster medical operations, and community vulnerability analysis – equipping them to assist in their communities during emergencies.
In support of resilience across the public sector, Hazard Management provides guidance on the development and maintenance of business continuity plans. These are mandatory for all government departments and agencies to ensure a swift return to operations following a disaster.
National and regional exercises
Hazard Management actively leads and supports several preparedness exercises throughout the year, managing coordination with relevant local and regional agencies. These include:
- CARIBE WAVE – the annual regional tsunami exercise coordinated by UNESCO. It involves a simulated tsunami event to test and strengthen regional readiness. The exercise also includes a test of NENS.
- National Hurricane Exercise – conducted annually to evaluate and refine hurricane preparedness and response procedures at the national level. Hazard Management coordinates this large-scale drill in partnership with government ministries, emergency services, and other stakeholders.
- All-Hazard Exercise – held at various points during the year, Hazard Management facilitates a variety of scenario-based exercises with relevant agencies, ensuring a coordinated response to a range of potential threats, including natural and technological hazards.
For more information, or to schedule a presentation, email Hazard Management at [email protected].
Health Services Authority
The Health Services Authority offers several clinical and continuing medical education training courses for staff and healthcare clinicians in Cayman, such as advanced cardiac life support, and paediatric advanced life support. It also offers health-related training for the public:
- Basic life support
- Heartsaver AED (CPR)
- First aid
- Parent Craft training
- Smoking cessation
- Nutrition counselling
- Diabetic counselling
- Genetic counselling
- Bariatric support group
Call 949-8600 for more information.
Red Cross
The Cayman Islands Red Cross is heavily involved in education and awareness to create a better prepared community and build strong community relationships and islandwide resilience. Training programmes include:
- Child protection (including basic awareness sessions on HIV, AIDS and STIs, to teens and young adults)
- First aid, CPR and AED (workplace, commercial and public sessions)
- Lifeguarding & basic water rescue
- Disaster preparedness (preparations, response and recovery)
- Community engagement (assisting vulnerable members of the Cayman community through the Referral Programme and the Support Our Seniors Programme)
For more information, email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
St. Matthew’s University And Cayman Heart Foundation
St. Matthew’s University is a medical school focused on providing quality and affordable medical courses. Doctors at St. Matthew’s University Medical School volunteer their time and expertise teaching life-saving CPR/AED skills to the Cayman Islands community.
Every year they donate a proportion of the proceeds of training to Cayman Heart Foundation to support that organisation’s work in raising awareness and addressing cardiac issues in the Cayman Islands. St. Matthew’s University also serves as an International Training Center for the American Heart Association and offers accredited BLS/CPR training to both medical and non-medical participants. Courses offer a two-year certification and take place at St. Matthew’s Medical School in the clinical skills lab.
Email Dr. Sukumar at [email protected] or visit Cayman Heart Foundation at caymanheartfoundation.ky for more information.
This article originally appeared in Compass Media’s 2026 Emergency Guide.
Related Videos
