Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

72 BVI Teens Become Community Emergency Responders

72 BVI Teens Become Community Emergency Responders

The first person on the scene can make all the difference in the world in an emergency. Having completed an intensive three-day Teen CERT course, 72 Virgin Islands students aged 12 to 18 are ready to step in and assist.

The Department of Disaster Management’s (DDM) Training Officer Carishma Hicks said the Teen CERT programme exposed participants to the theoretical and practical elements of responding to the wide variety of emergencies that can impact the BVI.

“The students learned vital skills in first aid, emergency communications, fire safety and suppression, light search and rescue and disaster psychology,” Ms. Hicks stated. She added, “These skills help them to go out and make their homes, communities and schools safer. This in turn helps the BVI to be more resilient.”

The Teen CERT training was adapted from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was piloted in the Territory in 2013 with a dozen students. The programme has grown over the intervening years and has become a routine extra-curricular activity at some schools.

Bregado Flax Educational Centre student Trevianne John said the training gave her a more safety-oriented perspective.

 “I look at the world differently,” Ms John stated, “Now I know things that can cause fires and can inform persons about how they can be safer.” She said that she is grateful to have learned different things including identifying and responding to a seizure and the correct way to remove disposable gloves.

Teen CERT training sessions were held earlier this month on Tortola and Virgin Gorda through a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Department of Disaster Management, with funding from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Minister for Education, Culture, Agriculture, Fisheries, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley said over the course of the coming year, the partnership is expected to bring more emergency response training to schools around the Territory as part of the expanding SMART Schools programme.

“The disasters of 2017 taught us that we need to build resilience in the Territory and particularly within our education sector,” Honourable Wheatley said, adding, “Naturally, this includes making sure the staff and students within our schools are properly prepared and have the necessary tools to respond to an emergency and to assist the professionals once they arrive on the scene.”

The DDM provides CERT and other training to schools, businesses and community groups. To request training, contact the Department at telephone number 468-4200.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×