National challenge for rescue teams kicks off

A total of 37 volunteer teams from across Pakistan are participating in the three-day event

LAHORE: In order to improve professional emergency response capacity of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), the National Challenge for CERTs started at Emergency Services Academy (Rescue 1122) on Monday. Former Scottish Parliamentarian Hanzala Malik, along with Punjab Emergency Service Founding Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer inaugurated National CERTs Challenge.

Dr Naseer welcomed all volunteer teams and said the main purpose of the event was to provide a platform to volunteers for healthy competition and encourage the best CERT/ volunteer teams. He asserted that CERTs challenge would also enhance coordination among teams and service for the management of emergencies and safety promotion.



Speaking on the occasion, Malik said this purposeful exercise shall increase competition among teams. He added this would ultimately enhance the capacity of volunteers on disaster response at the grassroots level. The delegation observed the emergency response skills of participating volunteers. The different scenarios included management of mass causality incident (MCI), light search and rescue, basic life support and first aid, response to fire and water emergencies.

The Rescue DG briefed the delegation about ongoing training activities of rescuers, emergency management system, patient transfer service, motorbike ambulance service and the provincial monitoring cell. A total of 37 volunteer teams from across the country are participating in the threeday challenge. Senior officers of Rescue Headquarters and Emergency Services Academy will assess, analyse and evaluate the community action for disaster response (CADRE) skills of all participating teams under the supervision of Exercise Controller Muhammad Ahsan. CERTs from Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Sialkot participated on the first day. Teams from Sargodha, Mianwali, Khushab, Bhakkar, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin Din, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Vehari, Khanewal and Narowal will participate on the second day.

The teams from Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Bhawalnagar, Lodhran, Gujrat, and Gujranwala will take part on the third day.

The best teams of the challenge will be awarded on International Volunteer Day.