Acting Chief Fire Officer, Errol Maynard, in conversation with President of The Rotary Club of Barbados West, Farid Mansour; mum of the late Xavier Mansour, Comarie Mansour; Ambulance Officer, Andrew Brathwaite; and friend of the Mansour Family, Dr. Anne Corbin, about how the Jaws of Life will be used.
Barbados Fire Service receives Jaws of Life
Fri, 07/01/2016 - 12:00am
The Barbados Fire Service (BFS) now has a new Jaws of Life, which was donated jointly by The Rotary Club of Barbados West and Xavier Mansour Fund.
The rescue tool was presented to the BFS on Wednesday at the Fire Service’s Probyn Street headquarters.
Addressing the proceedings, President of The Rotary Club of Barbados West, Farid Mansour, said the decision to give back to the BFS was twofold as he is both President of the Club and a relative of the late Xavier Mansour, who died in January 2014 after being involved in a car accident. He also expressed hope that the equipment will be used to the benefit of everyone.
Meanwhile, speaking as a friend of the Mansour family, Dr. Anne Corbin said the group is “hoping to continue to raise money through the Xavier Mansour Fund, which will continue to be handled by The Rotary Club of Barbados West.”
She added that, it is the family’s wish “to see improved training for paramedics as pointed out by the doctors… since they are the first medical contact in an emergency situation.
“We would also like to set up direct communication links with the head of the emergency room at the QEH (Queen Elizabeth Hospital), at the point of the accident. We feel that this could improve the service that is offered at the time and point where the officer shows up, as in, where the person is injured, and we feel that increased communication with the QEH can help to offer that service.”
Commending The Rotary Club of Barbados West and the Mansour family for their philanthropic step, Acting Chief Fire Officer, Errol Maynard, said the Jaws of Life will be kept in a state of readiness and put to good use.
“This gift will certainly assist us as we continue to be a progressive department and strive to be the leader in fire and rescue services in the region. This tool will augment our complement of rescue equipment and bolster our ability to efficiently carry out our duty at any incident scene.”
Andrew Brathwaite, Ambulance Officer, also gave the assurance that the new equipment would be put to good use. He stated that it will go a long way in jointly helping paramedics and personnel from the BFS in saving lives. (MG)