Barbados Cadet Corps Medical Unit
conducts Training Camp
The Cadet Medical Programme
Christmas Camp was held during the period 17-19 December 2007 at the Main Guard, Garrison. The
camp involved all the officers and cadets attached to the Programme.
The aim of the camp was to
conclude the emergency phase of the Star Two Medical Programme training,
which would allow the cadets to function in a junior assistant role at BDF,
Cadet Corps and Unit activities.
The training for the camp was
conducted as for the training programme.
Consolidated training was done on the entire day of 17 Dec 07 and
the morning of 18 Dec 07.
A tour of the Barbados Fire Service completed the training for the
afternoon of 18 Dec 07. This tour paid special attention to the new rescue
vehicle used by the Fire Service at Mass accident scenes.
The final day of training commenced with
a Field Training Exercise in Walkers Training Area. In order to judge the
skills of the cadets, Exercise “First Response” was conducted which
saw the training groups working as teams for the first time The cadets had to respond to a report of an explosion
involving other cadets in the area. The Walkers area
was the perfect theatre for such an assessment.
The
scenario indicated that a number of cadets were injured while on training
and the only way to reach them was by entering the wooded area in the back
of the Alleyne School. After
being guided through the thick vegetation by Major Irvin Boyce, the cadets
performed as expected by the standards of the Instructors.
The cadets did extremely well, traveling through this area with all their equipment and kit. The actual exercise treatment of the casualties went as expected for first timers on such training.
It is clear that more of this
type of training will be needed in order to shore up more confidence in
cadets and to build a certain level of competence. An on-the-spot Post
Mortem of the event proved to be vital as cadets benefited from
correctional comments from the Adult staff on hand.
Ms Shirley Hoyte
Basic medication and storage of the same was discussed in a lecture by Ms Shirley Holder, the BDF Pharmacist who also introduced them to the Bin Card method.
The camp ended on a high as the Cadets celebrated with a Christmas Party to which contributions were received from the cadets, officers and the Cadet Headquarters. Certificates were presented.
The Camp proved to be a success in terms of regaining teaching time which was lost due to various ceremonial events during the months of October and November 2007.
M.U. prepares to move out during the Exercise
The Command of the Cadet Corps must be commended for allowing the Unit to have such a training camp and for supporting it in the manner that ensured its success.
Thanks and appreciation go out to Major I Boyce, Capt S Norville, and Sgt Burgess P for their assistance during the exercise phase. Special thanks also to the management of the Main Guard for the use of their facilities.
M.U. personnel at the Barbados Fire Service
Action during the Exercise
Captain Denis Browne wraps us the Exercise
A theory session
Action during the Exercise
A practical First Aid session