HSA staff members are taught how to use a fire extinguisher in case of a fire.

As part of their procedural policies to ensure that all staff members are sensitized to fire safety management, the Health Services Authority (HSA) on the Brac scheduled a two day training session with the Brac Fire fighters which ran from Thursday, 8 to Friday, 9 May.

The exercise took place on the Fire Fighters training ground on the Bluff and on the hospital compound, with participants being taught how to use a fire extinguisher, how to proceed with a rescue in a smoke filled room, operating the pull station in the alarm system, the purpose of smoke detectors and how the system operates. The participants were also briefed on the various scenarios that could arise in the event of a fire and the relevant information that should be provided to the fire department in the event of an emergency.

Joseph Thompson, who is the training officer for the Cayman Islands fire service, made the trip to the Brac to conduct the training session. Together with a team from the Brac detachment, they trained the participants. In executing the training, Mr Thompson utilized two local fire fighters, Witney Tatum and Kirk Watson during the training sessions, with the view to having these officers thoroughly trained, and thereby allowing them to be in more equipped to conduct their own training as needed.

The two officers expressed that they are relishing the challenge in conducting these sessions whenever necessary. “The department is also willing to avail themselves to help in training staff members from any interested Government Department in sensitizing them to the various fire hazards and the procedural measures in dealing with these situations,” said Mr Tatum.

According to Mr Thompson, a lot of the participants had experience in extinguisher and fire protocols, but for the new members of staff the experience was good in that it allowed them to have the same level of knowledge as their more senior co-workers.

“The fire department will continue in their efforts to educate the residents on the Sister Islands on safety procedures,” Mr Watson added. The fire department has been relentless in their efforts in educating the public, with their last two sessions involving a demonstration to the community through a seminar organized by Cayman Brac Seventh Day Church and a visit by one of the primary schools to the department, with the children receiving a tour of one of the fire trucks.