The partnership between Global EMS Entwicklungshilfe gGmbH and Saint Lucia Fire Service (SLFS), based on the Eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia and comprising fire brigades, ambulances and a public-service training centre, aims to introduce standard protocols for providing emergency medical treatment to seriously injured and emergency patients.
Context:
The growing number of accidents and patients with transmissible illnesses is the main cause of severe disabilities and high mortality rates in the Eastern Caribbean region. This could be prevented by providing faster and safer emergency transport to hospitals. It is therefore necessary to build on a predecessor project of the two hospital partners in order to refine treatment plans and expand rescue chains.
Activities:
- Joint development of treatment protocols for medical emergency services
- Train-the-trainer workshop for managers and trainers from the SLFS emergency services
- Training event for paramedics
- Accreditation of six treatment protocols by the SLFS and the Ministry of Health and Wellness
- Certification of 145 paramedics from St. Lucia
Results:
Expanding the emergency protocols and training more emergency medical specialists leads to better primary care and faster transportation of patients to hospitals, and, ultimately, lower mortality rates for emergency patients. The train-the-trainer principle also helps to mainstream the project in the long term in the St. Lucia region.