Onboarding Program ~ Basic Safety Training

This week was the final week and classes focused on Basic Safety Training. We learned basic fire safety skills and then had firefighting practical. We suited up in our firefighting gear, including SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) to help us breathe while working in smoke filled spaces. We practiced putting out different kinds of fires and rescuing people trapped in a burning building. With the help of the team, our more claustrophobic team members overcame their fears and every member of our team passed the test.  

Group Photos in Our Firefighting Gear

Celebrating with Prithvi After We Passed the Search and Rescue Practical

Getting Ready for the Indoor Fire Practical

John and I After Finishing the Fire Fighting Practical

Putting Out a Gas Fire (I'm the one in the front)

Entering the Container

Celebrating Being Done with Gabriela

 After fire safety classes were completed we did one day of CPR/First Aid training. I found this part of the class rather boring, as I have to renew my training every year as a nurse, but I took the opportunity to help others in the class who had not been trained before.
The last two days of training focused on water survival. We learned about abandoning ship, liferafts, flares, life jackets, and life preserving skills. The last day we had practical training. We went to the local pool and practiced what we had been learning. We demonstrated our swimming ability and practiced putting on gumby suits (bright orange survival suits) and jumping into the pool, flipping over and overturned liferaft and other water safety skills. I absolutely loved this part of training, it was so much fun and I loved getting a chance to swim. Some members of the team struggled with this practical as they were not strong swimmers, but with the support and encouragement of the team, once again, everyone passed.

Jumping Off the Diving Board

Enjoying the Water

Successful at Putting on My Gumby Suit

Enjoying the Water in My Gumby Suit

Practicing Huddling Together to Stay Warm

Practicing Travelling Together in the Water



Flipping over the Liferaft

 

The beginning of the next week we have one final day of class, and we were done! We received our certificates of completion of the Onboarding Program and have begun our packing. It is time to leave for Guinea. Our field service plans have been changed, due to restricted travel in some areas of Guinea due to some protesting that is going on. So we will find out when we arrive what our new assignment is. Africa here we come!

Goofy Photo With Our Certificates

The Proud Team With Our Certificates