THE NATIONAL Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in collaboration with Felix Foundation and the International Surflife Saving Association on Monday, November 19, commenced four-day Open Water Rescue training at the La Pleasure Beach Hotel in Accra.
The training brought together participants from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Ambulance Service, Marine Cadet, among several others.
Reading the keynote address on behalf of the Director General of NADMO, Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh, the Director of Geological Disasters, Mr. Richard Amo-Yartey, disclosed that the ceremony formed part of a long term plan to establish a Marine Search and Rescue Squad (MSRS) capable of responding to emergencies during the use of water bodies for transportation, recreation or livelihood.
He mentioned that according to a 2014 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), 372,000 lives are lost to water yearly. The June 3 disaster which hit Ghana in 2015 also claimed 120 lives. To curb this menace, NADMO, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, trained personnel from the security services and other volunteers in 2016 to form the basic unit of the Ghana National Aquatic Rescue Unit (GNARU) aimed at ensuring the safety of patrons of water bodies in Ghana.
GNARU is deployed on all festive occasions to the beaches to ensure the safety of patrons, he said, adding that the squad would continue to receive training that would equip them to become a fully-fledged MSRS to be able to respond to all marine emergencies.
Mr. Amo-Yartey averred that the training course would equip participants with the needed skills to conduct safe-open water rescue in case of floods and water accidents in the country, undertake surveillance operations and to enable them identify a victim in distress.
It would also enable the participants to use and operate various rescue equipment and machines as well as carry out CPR and First Aid.
BY: Nii Adjei Mensahfio