In collaboration with Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) under the Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER) Stage 5 organized the Community Action for Disaster Response (CADRE) Course to build the skills of community first responders in Bangladesh. The training was conducted from 21 – 23 November 2021 in the FSCD Training Complex in Mirpur-10, Dhaka.
The purpose of CADRE training is to equip the community with the skills to manage and reduce damage caused during disasters. Twenty-three participants from FSCD, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), Cyclone Preparedness Partnership (CPP), Bangladesh Scouts, Bangladesh Navy College, and Bangladesh Scouts took part in the training.
The PEER program aims to prepare the emergency responders to manage future disasters while also embedding CADRE into the country’s institutional budgets, strategies, and plans. This training will develop a pool of instructors co-supported by PEER and FSCD, which will further cascade this training to develop a community volunteer force in tackling the impacts of disasters, enabling PEER partners to take ownership of the course.
CADRE at a glance
The CADRE course is designed to train community-level volunteers and other community members to develop their skills and knowledge as community emergency responders. The course helps to empower the communities and limit their dependence on external help.
The first day of the training started with the basics of the course and included sessions on common hazards. Practical sessions on First Aid and Basic Life Support were also conducted, equipping the participants with the skills to:
- Identify injured patients
- Provide first aid
- Transport the patient to hospitals
Day two began with a practical session on Incident Command System and Triage, which was followed by sessions on Dead Body Management and Fire Emergencies. At the end of the day, the participants were divided into groups for practical sessions.
The final day of the training looked at evaluating the knowledge gained by the participants through evaluating exercises. Mr. John Abo, Chief of Party, PEER delivered the closing remarks and encouraged the participants to play an active role in reducing disaster impact and strengthening the country’s capabilities to tackle emergencies. Mr. Abdul Momen, Deputy Director, FSCD expressed his appreciation towards the training and added, “I am really impressed by the active participation in this training.” In the end, the participants were awarded certificates of completion for their performance.
