Canadian assists emergency training for Palestinian Red Crescent

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By: Bernard Barrett, Canadian Red Cross

“It took 20 minutes from the time of the explosion until the arrival of the first casualties at the Advanced Medical Post," notes Canadian Dana Banke of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). "For a major situation such as this one, that's not bad." 

Banke is referring to a field exercise on the final day of the Advanced Medical Post training course, part of the disaster management program of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).  This exercise is also tests the coordination between the PRCS ambulance services, police, and civil defence.

The Canadian Red Cross aid worker is currently working with the ICRC in Ramallah.  The Mississauga, Ontario resident has over 30 years experience with ambulance services in Ontario, including three years as the district supervisor for Peel Region Ambulance Services. 

This particular training scenario is constructed around the explosion of an oxygen refill station in the basement of PRCS headquarters.  The start of the exercise is signalled by loud explosions and the 20 designated victims, most lying in pools of red dye, begin moaning and pleading for help.  A burning tire in the driveway adds to the effect, as do the screaming relatives and friends who attempt to rush PRCS and later the police barriers surrounding the area.

Earlier in the morning, Banke and his colleagues from the PRCS spent close to two hours in "moulage" with the volunteer victims, applying makeup and gory plastic imitations of wounds. 

The cases include severe burns, eviscerations, severe bleeding from damaged arteries, inhalation injuries, fractures, chest wounds and even a pregnancy.

The different types of injures are carefully selected to challenge the participant’s triage skills of victims both at the scene of the incident and at the Advanced Medical Post set up in a nearby school yard. Banke observes the way the situation is managed, taking notes to be used in the subsequent debriefing of participants with the PRCS trainers.  

"This is the third year this course has been given," he says. "In previous years much of the training expertise came from other Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies, but now the PRCS has developed their own training expertise and the ability to deliver the course themselves. They have also translated all the material into Arabic."

Banke's involvement is to provide technical support, helping to plan course content and presentations with his PRCS colleagues and to assist in managing the training exercise.  In addition, he delivered the course module on "Safer Access".  This module, developed by the ICRC for use around the world, deals with risk reduction in the delivery of medical and humanitarian assistance in conflict situations.

Bashir Ahmed, the course director and the coordinator of the PRCS Disaster Management Unit, says Banke's experience both in Canada as well as in conflicts and natural disasters around the world, provides an invaluable contribution throughout the course and particularly on the issue of Safer Access.

"We are often tempted to rush in immediately when we see fellow Palestinians in need of our help," explains Ahmed.  "Safer Access stresses the importance of taking the time to coordinate and work with other agencies, even with the Israeli authorities. It reduces the risk of security incidents caused by misunderstanding."

Ahmed says he is very satisfied with the simulation exercise and the four-day training course. 

"Not only did the participants learn about triage and setting up an Advanced Medical Post, they now understand the importance of coordination both within the PRCS and with external actors such as police and civil defence," he says.

There are now 60 volunteers who have received this training in the West Bank and another 40 people in Gaza.  An additional course is currently planned for Gaza, but it is on hold until the security situation there improves.  With the help of the ICRC, the PRCS is also planning a field hospital course in November.

In late September, Banke will be accompanying a representative from the PRCS and a representative of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to Toronto for the Emergency 2006 Conference organized by the Ontario Paramedics Association and the Sunnybrook Health Centre.  They will also meet with the Emergency Health Services Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health. 

The trip is funded by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Banke explains that it will allow them to study the evolution of the Ontario emergency medical services system as part of a longer term plan to create a Palestinian Emergency Medical Services Commission.