Fire Service receives equipment to rescue disaster victims

Accra, Aug. 20, GNA - The World Rescue Organisation (WRO) is assisting the Ghana Fire Service with training and assorted equipment worth over one million pounds sterling, to resource its personnel efficiently to rescue victims of disasters, particularly those involved in motor accidents.

A delegation from the Organisation, a United Kingdom-based charity committed to improving the skills of rescuers worldwide, is already in the country to run a two-week training programme for some fire officers, who will then train their colleagues.

When the delegation, led by its Chair, Mr Barry O'Donnell, called on Vice President Aliu Mahama at the Castle, Osu, he welcomed the assistance, particularly the training, saying the specialisation would help to save the many lives and property lost to fires, accidents and other disasters.

Vice President Mahama said the high rate of fire outbreaks and accidents was worrying and expressed the hope that the new skills and knowledge of the fire officers would help to alleviate the situation. He assured the delegation of the Government's support to make the programme successful.

Mr. O'Donnell, who is also the Chief Fire Officer of Yorkshire, U.K., said successful rescuing operations were critical in saving the lives of victims trapped in accidents.

He explained: "It is believed that within an hour of an accident, which is called the 'golden hour,' a trapped victim stands a better chance of survival if rescued and the condition is stabilized before being sent to the hospital.

"If that does not happen, there will be more loss of blood and further deterioration of the injury and condition."

Mr O'Donnell said the WRO, formed about five years ago, is concerned about the one million deaths that occur through accidents annually, hence the assistance to the Ghana Fire Service to reduce the incident in Ghana.

He said the Ghanaian trainers would be sent to the United Kingdom next year to update their skills, while some members of the delegation would also return to Ghana to assess the impact of their assistance and the condition of the equipment.

Ghana, he said, would be registered as the second African country of the organisation, after South Africa, when the programme becomes a success, adding that Ghana would be used as a base to reach other countries in the sub-region.

Interior Minister Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, said Ghana, which was chosen because of the relative peace and stability it enjoyed on the continent, would prove equal to the task. He commended the Vice President and Mr Joseph Achana, Director of Ghana Outlook, an NGO, for facilitating the assistance.