PRT Salah Ad Din
Iraqi Firefighters Learn Lifesaving Skills
January 27, 2009
Salah ad Din Province, Tikrit Iraq - Imagine a small fire breaks out at your neighbor's house late one night. You pick up the phone and dial 911. First responders arrive in minutes. This has not been the case for the citizens of Salah ad Din, Iraq. Over the last five years, emergency services such as fire and EMT services have diminished amid the conflict and chaos. The improved security situation in the province has brought these important services back to life.
Working with the Salah ad Din government to improve emergency services, in July 2007, the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) delivered five new fire engines to the Fire Department as a gift to the people of Salah ad Din. This helped lay the foundation for an ongoing partnership between the Fire Department and the PRT. The latest manifestation of this collaboration was a Basic Emergency Medical Training (EMT) course for firefighters that finished in November 2008. The course was organized by PRT, Multinational Division-North Surgeon’s Office and the Salah ad Din Fire Department.
Although supported by the PRT and the U.S. military, the course was Iraqi-led. Working closely with Colonel Ziad Hamada Saleh, Dean of the Police Training Academy, Major Abdullah Saad Mohameed, the Civil Defense Training Officer and Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Saleh Shaouqi, of the Civil Defense Center, the PRT funded the hiring of three Iraqi instructors for the course. Two Iraqi medical doctors and one Iraqi paramedic headed the instructor team with SFC James Bailey and SGM Napoleon Noguerra, both EMTs by trade, providing occasional guest instruction.
The course was designed as a “Train the Trainer” course in anticipation of the Fire Department offering the course to firefighters throughout the province. The firefighters were challenged with class room lectures and practical exercises, five days per week for three weeks for a total of 130 hours of training – exceeding the 110 hour U.S. Department of Transportation training Standard. As a testament to the dedication of the participants, 24 Iraqi firefighters are now EMT qualified. Thirty percent of the graduates are now qualified to teach the course in the future. The firefighters who participated in the course expressed the gratitude for the training. One firefighter recounted a story of how he could now save the life of a baby who was poisoned by drinking kerosene because he has some medical knowledge.
At the graduation on November 3, MAJ Abdullah explained to graduates, that “they should be brave and proud Iraqis who do not fear terrorist propaganda and they should be proud to serve their country to defeat terrorism.”
In a further show of Iraqi intra-departmental cooperation, MAJ Mohameed and COL Saleh reached an agreement that allowed the course to be taught at the Police Training Academy. Two Academy students were also allowed to enroll in the class. An improved intra-agency relationship between the Iraqi Police and the Fire Department allows greater resource sharing and training - an important step in developing a well balanced Emergency Medical System (EMS) in the province. The Iraqi Police are now considering offering a similar course to police recruits.
The PRT also donated medical equipment in order to provide the firemen with the tools necessary for success as they establish a plan to maintain their newly acquired skills and offer training to other firefighters. The equipment was presented to the Chief of the Fire Department as a demonstration of the PRT’s commitment to assisting the province in rebuilding a strong and well-functioning Emergency Medical service in Salah ad Din.
PRT Salah Ad Din
Iraqi Firefighters Learn Lifesaving Skills
January 27, 2009
Salah ad Din Province, Tikrit Iraq - Imagine a small fire breaks out at your neighbor's house late one night. You pick up the phone and dial 911. First responders arrive in minutes. This has not been the case for the citizens of Salah ad Din, Iraq. Over the last five years, emergency services such as fire and EMT services have diminished amid the conflict and chaos. The improved security situation in the province has brought these important services back to life.
Working with the Salah ad Din government to improve emergency services, in July 2007, the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) delivered five new fire engines to the Fire Department as a gift to the people of Salah ad Din. This helped lay the foundation for an ongoing partnership between the Fire Department and the PRT. The latest manifestation of this collaboration was a Basic Emergency Medical Training (EMT) course for firefighters that finished in November 2008. The course was organized by PRT, Multinational Division-North Surgeon’s Office and the Salah ad Din Fire Department.
Although supported by the PRT and the U.S. military, the course was Iraqi-led. Working closely with Colonel Ziad Hamada Saleh, Dean of the Police Training Academy, Major Abdullah Saad Mohameed, the Civil Defense Training Officer and Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Saleh Shaouqi, of the Civil Defense Center, the PRT funded the hiring of three Iraqi instructors for the course. Two Iraqi medical doctors and one Iraqi paramedic headed the instructor team with SFC James Bailey and SGM Napoleon Noguerra, both EMTs by trade, providing occasional guest instruction.
The course was designed as a “Train the Trainer” course in anticipation of the Fire Department offering the course to firefighters throughout the province. The firefighters were challenged with class room lectures and practical exercises, five days per week for three weeks for a total of 130 hours of training – exceeding the 110 hour U.S. Department of Transportation training Standard. As a testament to the dedication of the participants, 24 Iraqi firefighters are now EMT qualified. Thirty percent of the graduates are now qualified to teach the course in the future. The firefighters who participated in the course expressed the gratitude for the training. One firefighter recounted a story of how he could now save the life of a baby who was poisoned by drinking kerosene because he has some medical knowledge.
At the graduation on November 3, MAJ Abdullah explained to graduates, that “they should be brave and proud Iraqis who do not fear terrorist propaganda and they should be proud to serve their country to defeat terrorism.”
In a further show of Iraqi intra-departmental cooperation, MAJ Mohameed and COL Saleh reached an agreement that allowed the course to be taught at the Police Training Academy. Two Academy students were also allowed to enroll in the class. An improved intra-agency relationship between the Iraqi Police and the Fire Department allows greater resource sharing and training - an important step in developing a well balanced Emergency Medical System (EMS) in the province. The Iraqi Police are now considering offering a similar course to police recruits.
The PRT also donated medical equipment in order to provide the firemen with the tools necessary for success as they establish a plan to maintain their newly acquired skills and offer training to other firefighters. The equipment was presented to the Chief of the Fire Department as a demonstration of the PRT’s commitment to assisting the province in rebuilding a strong and well-functioning Emergency Medical service in Salah ad Din.