Emergency responders trained in handling bodies properly

PESHAWAR: Around 35 emergency responders from 15 countries have been trained in handling bodies properly and identifying them in case of any emergency.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had organised the five-day international course held in Islamabad. Emergency responders from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Egypt, United Kingdom, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Syria, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam participated in the training session.

On the last day, a field exercise was conducted to check the readiness of participants during mass casualty. A power plant blast scene was recreated. The rescue and emergency workers were supposed to respond keeping in view the standard operating procedures and skills they were imparted during the training.

The annual course, pioneered in Pakistan, is in its third year. It covers the core principles of dead body management. The course focuses on new techniques and technologies to identify and handle the bodies with respect and dignity, thus minimising the trauma of the bereaved families. It included the challenges that usually hamper communications and coordination in the aftermath of an emergency.

Cheryl Katzmarzyk, the ICRC’s regional forensic expert and the architect of the course, acknowledged how much Pakistan had improved its handling of the dead in recent emergencies. “We face frequent tragedies in Pakistan and in the region. Proper and dignified management of the dead is one of the three pillars of the humanitarian response to disasters, along with the rescue and care of survivors and the provision of essential services,” said Ms Katzmarzyk.Since 2010, the ICRC has organised 13 national and two international courses in Pakistan and trained more than 400 emergency responders and forensic specialists.