Search and rescue training for Clarendon residents

Some 30 selected persons will be benefiting from a two-day workshop to be held at the Four Paths Resource Centre in Clarendon this weekend.

The two-day workshop will cover the functions of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency as well as the Ananda Alert Secretariat, search procedures, and introduction to basic first- aid training.

Annadjae Roberts, acting Ananda Alert officer, told The Gleaner that the aim is to equip persons from within the communities with the necessary skills.

"After all, they are the first responders in helping to search for missing children once the alarm has been made in the community," she said.

Roberts said training will also be extended to the various stakeholders within the area such as professional partners from the victim services division from within the agency or from other units.

Included in the training will be a practical search simulation for the participants so they would be able to experience a real-life physical setting and their preparation level assessed.

The workshop, presented by the National Children Registry in partnership with the Jamaica Fire Brigade and the Caribbean Search Centre, is one of the many sessions that have already been done across the island.

To date, Roberts said more than 500 persons have already been trained.