Fire officers get training in data collection

 

Firefighters who took part in the training
Firefighters who took part in the training

It is expected that data collected by the Dominica Fire and Ambulance services will be more detailed and readily available thanks to a three-day comprehensive three-day workshop on post-crash response which ended on Wednesday.

Chief Fire Officer, Josiah Dupuis, in remarks to the participants at the closing ceremony which was held at the Office of Disaster Management in Jimmit, the training now puts more responsibility on firefighters in terms of ensuring that data collection is improved.

He said organizations like the Fire Service are renowned for keeping data, but he has found gaps that need to be filled.

“In other words, I could say that we did 7,113 ambulance calls last year but if one were to ask me ‘so chief from those 7,000 calls how many of those calls were calls that you responded to motor vehicle accidents (MVA) or High blood pressure’ …. I am sure if we go back to our diaries, I will get some information but clearly there are gaps and I am very certain that as a result of this training, some of the management structures and forms that we are putting in place now, that will come on stream very shortly, I hope that will help us with better data collection,” he stated.

According to the Fire Chief, data collection is not just for collection purposes only but to better assist officers with what they are doing noting that “it helps them to know what to buy, and also assists them in terms of training and policy direction.”

He also told the officers that although the training may seem routine, they need to build on the information received and provide better service than they have done in the past.

“This must extend to other fire officers and you have to be light bearers yourselves and each of you can be agents of change as you go back to your station. You can start doing sessions on your shift; your supervisors may well engage you and have you do a program at your station,” he said. “This training allows you to be even better prepared for the response that we do from time to time and certainly as it relates to reporting when you get to the hospital. That is very important.”

In stating their impressions of the course, Firefighters Fixroy Marie, Thora Robinson and Tony Jno Baptiste all gave it thumbs up and promised to pass on information learnt to their colleagues.

The workshop was held at the Office of Disaster Management in Jimmit.

It was coordinated by Health Educator, Allison Samuel and facilitated by Dr. Mallet Marie.

It was done in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security, Immigration and Labour and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

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3 Comments

  1. Airtarffic
    December 20, 2013

    The Office of Disaster is really trying always have something going on – especially with firemen and agriculture; good job keep training our people.

    • barbalene
      December 20, 2013

      I was there recently with Minisrty of Health – so doh forget health

  2. partner
    December 20, 2013

    Great Job Guys, put in practice what was learnt..

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