Kingston, Jamaica, October 2, 2023 – In an effort to strengthen the readiness and capabilities of first response agencies and voluntary groups in the Cayman Islands, 43 individuals have received rigorous training and certification in Mass Casualty Management (MCM), with the recertification of local instructors. Sponsored by the Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), this crucial activity aims to prepare the Cayman Islands to handle major incidents that may disrupt the normal course of emergency healthcare services.
The training was supervised by PAHO Regional Trainer and Lead Instructor, Mr. Peter Burgess from Barbados and included sessions of simulated mass casualty events.
With the Cayman Islands facing unique challenges due to its size and population, the training has equipped emergency personnel with the skills required for a coordinated and efficient use of resources should a mass casualty incident occur. It has enabled responders to provide prompt and appropriate assistance to victims, prioritize the injured based on their injuries, and ensure critical patients receive immediate medical stabilization and surgical interventions.
“We were fortunate to train a number of local instructors in the PAHOI HCM course, so that they are primarily responsible for delivering the content,” HMCI Director, Dani Coleman said.
Similarly, course coordinator, Adan Powell-Jeffries, HMCI’s Logistics and Operations Officer, emphasized the importance of preparedness and response capacity, saying, “We need to maintain a state of maximum readiness for a major incident, and this training improves our preparedness and response capacity. It is important that we have pre-established procedures in place for rescue mobilization, incident site management, and hospital reception in the event that we face a major incident, especially those involving multiple victims and multiple agencies' response.”
In addition, the training delved into the Incident Command Systems (ICS) and the Joint Emergency Service Interoperability (JESIP) model, educating participants on the structure, functions, and responsibilities of managing incident sites and coordinating responses from multiple agencies. Mr. Powell-Jeffries further emphasized the importance of agencies working together efficiently during complex incidents, saying, "If they cannot cooperate and work together, the result will probably be inefficiency and chaos. So this course is important; it makes the Cayman Islands even better able to deal with a serious situation if it occurs."
Participants in the comprehensive training program included representatives from the Cayman Islands Regiment, Customs and Border Control, the Cayman Islands Port Authority, and various first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and health care workers. Additionally, volunteer agencies such as the Red Cross and Community Emergency Response Teams played an active role in the training, therefore reinforcing the collaborative effort to enhance the Cayman Islands' preparedness for unforeseen crises.
The PAHO Jamaica Country Office continues its close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and HMCI to foster a multi-hazard approach to managing health emergencies.
