Can one day make a difference to disaster preparedness in the Caribbean?

Click here to read the full report, published on PreventionWeb.net. 

the community in Patience are trained by St JohnIn 2009, the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin and the German NGO, The Johanniter, funded a Disaster Preparedness project in 7 countries in the Caribbean, which was delivered by local St John organisations. The aim of the project was to train people in disaster and hazard awareness and emergency First Aid in order to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities. The countries involved were: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; and Saint Lucia.

A one-day curriculum on disaster awareness and emergency first aid was developed, and trainers from each country were instructed in how to run the courses. Anyone could participate, but there was a particular focus on educating people with involvement at the community level, such as in schools and Village Disaster Committees.

The course was provided free of charge, and covered topics such as preparing and planning for a disaster, responding to different types of disaster and facing the aftermath, as well as basic Emergency First Aid training. Participants also received a basic First Aid kit, a First Aid reference booklet and a CDEMA guide to creating a Family Emergency Plan.

Saint Lucia Community Response

By the end of the project in December 2010, a total of13,255 people had been trained  across the Caribbean region, 1832 of which were in Saint Lucia. In the wake of Hurricane Tomas in late October 2010 which was particularly devastating in Saint Lucia, St John Saint Lucia was keen to find out if the Disaster Preparedness and First Aid Programme had better prepared participants’ in preparation, preventative measures and response. To assess this, a focus group with 34 trained individuals from disaster-prone regions across Saint Lucia was held in February 2011.

an eager participant reads the training materialsThe group discussion highlighted a number of positive effects of the training course, including the development of:
* Skills to prepare plans and secure homes / schools/ workplaces to minimise the impact of a disaster.
* An increased awareness of risks and the need to remain focused and calm in an emergency.
* Skills to respond in everyday first aid situations involving friends and relatives.

Reasons for attending the training course ranged from a desire to be capable of responding to household emergencies involving loved ones, to the broadening of professional skills. Many participants added that the free cost of the training course was a major incentive, as similar training schemes can cost as much as $500. The resources provided on the training course received particularly positive feedback. The First Aid and Family Emergency Plan booklets were described as very family friendly, informative and easy to understand.

"The Disaster Preparedness and First Aid training that was undertaken by St John St Lucia is so vital. It has built confidence in our volunteers and after the passage of Hurricane Tomas, the manner in which they responded is testament of the excellent training that St John provided.”
Simone Mondesir – St Lucia National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) Soufriere

Has behaviour changed?

When asked whether the training had made a difference to the participants’ response to Hurricane Tomas, many said they had felt more confident in their knowledge and preparation. There were examples of participants visually inspecting buildings and repairing vulnerable parts, taping their windows, leaving doors ajar and placing emergency bags next to household exits to minimise the impact of the hurricane. Many had also used their first aid skills at the time of the hurricane and in everyday life, and most felt they had an increased awareness of emergency preparation and response. While some participants had created emergency kits and food supplies, none had yet prepared an emergency plan for their families, work places or community groups. It was also thought likely that behaviour may return to former practices without ongoing training courses and refresher sessions.

Conclusions

The focus group participants clearly felt that the training had been very valuable to them and that more training should occur. The majority considered the knowledge they gained in First Aid as the key benefit to the project, and said they felt they were better able to support their families and communities in a disaster. Participants felt secure in their preventative measures and one commented that she had slept soundly through Hurricane Tomas because she was so confident in her preparation. Information on types of disasters and hazards, including man-made disasters, and understanding of measures to minimise their impact, was viewed as very important. Participants felt that continuous training and a focus on Caribbean issues may lead to people changing their behaviour. It was also suggested that training would have most impact immediately prior to the hurricane season (from March), and should be tailored to target the specific risks of different occupations such as fishermen and bus drivers. Overall, the Programme review highlighted the need and demand for continuing work in Disaster Preparedness and First Aid training in the Caribbean region.

St John International aims to highlight this project as an excellent example of the positive impact which can be made at the community level in relation to disaster preparedness, with relatively small amounts of money. It hopes to continue to run the programme in the Caribbean with modifications as well as replicate and adapt the design in other countries in which it works around the world, particularly in Africa and the Pacific.

Posted by: Admin on 19 September 2011

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