Basrah Firefighters Train up

Photo By Staff Sgt. Luke Koladish | A member of the Basrah International Airport fire department rehearses Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation during a practical excercise held at the Baghdad International Airport fire department, June 1.  

IRAQ

06.05.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Luke Koladish 

114th Public Affairs Detachment

Fifteen members of the Basrah International Airport fire department conducted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation training last week at the Baghdad International Airport in an effort to have the two airports certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

"The ICAO requires the departments have certain standards—response times, the quality of training, and what their capabilities are," Lt. Col. Christine M. Nichols, 364th Civil Affairs Brigade, Functional Specialty Cell infrastructure project manager said.

The Baghdad and Basrah International Airports fall underneath the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority. In December the British began sending firefighters to train under the BIAP department on procedures specific to airports. This, the sixth and final class at BIAP, graduated, June 5.

Some of the topics covered were undercarriage fires, working through smoke, engine fires and radio communications with the air traffic control tower. In week three of the training, a building was set ablaze to test the firefighter's ability to work through smoke and fire hose placement.

"They do a good job, they are older, but they are doing well," BIAP fire chief Mahmud Mohammed Saeed said. He has been the primary instructor and supervisor of the refresher training for the veteran firefighters.

The CPR training was conducted by a bilingual, bicultural advisor with the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade public health team.

"They were already familiar with the concepts of CPR, but had never done a practical exercise," explained Iraqi doctor of obstetrics and gynecology. "They were able to perform CPR by themselves and in addition learn techniques to help patients who may be choking."

The 364th Civil Affairs Brigade team worked with the British liaison officers from Basrah to transport the firefighters to Baghdad and provided the CPR instructor.

"They are the first responders and you never know what the firefighters are going to encounter when they go out, having the basic first aid training and CPR knowledge could save a life that otherwise may not have been," said Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Markay, 364th Civil Affairs Brigade.

• Date Taken: 06.05.2009
• Date Posted: 06.05.2009 07:22
• Story ID: 34568
• Location: IQ