First responders from Latin America, Caribbean enhance chemical incident response preparedness

A regional basic training course offered by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Panama from April 23-27 allowed first responders from Latin America and the Caribbean to improve chemical incident response capabilities.

Organized jointly by OPCW and the Panamanian National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the training course covered response to chemical warfare and toxic industrial chemical incidents. Attendees also honed monitoring, detection, decontamination and first aid capabilities.

Addressing the course’s 33 participants from 17 OPCW member states, Jaime Villar, the general director of the Panamanian Firefighter Corps, said, “I hope that this training will contribute to building preparedness in your respective states to respond quickly and effectively to chemical incidents, which is also a component of our common endeavours to enhance regional peace and security”.

In addition to providing theoretical information, the course also enabled participants to apply their new knowledge through practical sessions. Participants will next take part in an advanced training course in Argentina scheduled for the end of the month.