Dominican Red Cross strengthens its response capacity with the First National Lifeguard Championship
With the firm objective of optimizing the capacity to react to atmospheric phenomena and emergency situations, the Dominican Red Cross (CRD) kicked off the First National Lifeguard Championship. The event, which is taking place in San Francisco de Macorís, brings together specialists and authorities to raise preparedness standards in the face of current climate challenges.
Doctor Miguel Sanz Flores, president of the institution, highlighted during the inaugural ceremony that this initiative is fundamental for updating the skills of lifeguards. According to Sanz Flores, personnel must be prepared to face constant threats, from hurricanes and floods to traffic accidents and health crises that affect the infrastructure and safety of Dominican communities.
At the Red Cross, we work to be prepared for unforeseen risks, and with this activity, we are preparing ourselves for how to face the consequences of a possible phenomenon, attending to reports that warn us of our environmental reality, which, unfortunately, has not changed for the better.
Blaurio Alcántara, Director General of the Dominican Red Cross.
A comprehensive approach to risk management
The Director of Risk Management, Altagracia Capellán, emphasized that factors such as unchecked urban growth and climate change have increased vulnerability levels in the country. Therefore, this camp has the strategic support of the Emergency Operations Center (COE) and the United States Government Assistance Program (DASAC).
The training program focuses on critical areas for field operations:
- Incident command system.
- Operational safety and prehospital care.
- Information management and damage assessment.
- Tactical deployment in disaster scenarios.
Participation and operational deployment
The event features the participation of 286 volunteers, who were selected after a rigorous physical and technical evaluation process. These rescuers will be integrated into the institution’s specialized units as follows:
- 139 volunteers in the National Rapid Intervention Unit (UNIR).
- 89 members in the National Emergency Medical Unit (ENEM).
- 54 specialists in the National Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis Team (EDAN).
The event, which concludes this Sunday in the community of Acicate, Hostos, featured the presence of prominent figures, including provincial governor Ana Xiomara Cortez, the president of the local branch Rafael Severino, and Daniel Bolaños, head of the Delegation for the Latin American Caribbean of the International Federation of the Red Cross.
