Date: 18-20 March 2025
Location: Armed Police Force (APF) Disaster Management Training School, Kurintar, Chitwan, Nepal

Participation: vulnerable communities and municipal officials from Ratnanagar, Kalika, Madi, Khairahani Municipalities, and Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality

Building Resilient Communities through Life-Saving Skills

Recognizing the urgent need to strengthen local disaster response capacities, the Nepal Preparedness Partnership (NPP), through the Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP) and with support from the Asian Disaster Readiness Fund (ADRF), successfully conducted a three-day Basic Light Search and Rescue (LSAR) and Emergency First Aid (EFA) training at the APF Disaster Management Training School in Kurintar. This initiative aimed to equip community members with essential life-saving skills, ensuring a more effective emergency response before professional help arrives.

The Importance of Community-Led Disaster Response

Disaster-prone regions often face delays in emergency response due to geographical barriers and limited first-responder availability. In such situations, community members play a critical role in reducing casualties, mitigating damage, and supporting recovery efforts. This training sought to bridge existing gaps by fostering self-reliance at the grassroots level, prioritizing women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Participants were trained in essential techniques such as firefighting, situation assessment, first aid, CPR, injury management, fracture stabilization, and search and rescue operations for floods, enabling them to act swiftly during disasters. The training also emphasized coordination with local emergency response agencies to enhance overall disaster preparedness.

Objectives of the Training

  • Develop trained first responders and local resource persons capable of providing immediate medical assistance and search-and-rescue operations thus increasing survival rates.
  • Enhance emergency preparedness at the community level, to enhance overall disaster resilience and readiness.
  • Foster a proactive disaster response mindset among community members.
  • Strengthen collaboration between local authorities, the Armed Police Force (APF), municipal police, and disaster management committees.

Training Highlights

The three-day event featured a combination of theoretical lessons and hands-on simulation exercises. Key sessions included:

  • Medical First Response: Training on CPR, wound care, and handling medical emergencies.
  • Search and Rescue Operations: Techniques for navigating collapsed structures and providing aid to trapped individuals.
  • Water and Rope Rescue: Practical sessions on rescuing individuals in flood or drowning situations.
  • Firefighting Training: Basics of fire control, evacuation, and fire safety measures.
Participants engaging in real-life simulations, reinforcing their ability to respond effectively under high-pressure conditions.

Expected Impact and Way Forward This initiative is expected to create a lasting impact by:

  • Developing a network of trained first responders embedded within local communities.
  • Enhancing emergency coordination mechanisms with local disaster management agencies.
  • Conducting follow-up capacity-building programs to reinforce and expand the training outcomes.

As part of the next steps, participants will serve as local trainers, sharing their knowledge with wider community groups to sustain and expand disaster resilience efforts. Future initiatives will focus on continuous drills and refresher training to ensure long-term effectiveness.