Accident Rescue Course
Malaysia, June 2007
When I first arrived to Kuala Lumpur, and after being warmly received by Mr. Gregory at the airport, my first question to him was how many cars are we cutting? The nature of that question just denoted the anxiety and expectation for this course after 38 hours journey from Santiago, Chile. But, the first day I arrived to the academy, Mr. Jafaar, Deputy Course Coordinator, wisely told me that this course was about 'building bridges and not walls', and although I liked the concept of what he told me, I still remained eager in wrecking cars. But it didn?t take long for me, and my fellow participants, not only to fully understand the concept of building bridges, but also to live and appreciate it.
There are only a few times in our lives that we have the opportunity to experience what we could call a 'Life experience'. I am most certain that those two weeks at the academy, and in Malaysia, became for all of us a life experience. The twenty four participants headed back home, but we will cherish these memories for many years to come.
In the year 1888, a hundred and nineteen years ago, the Superintendent of the Santiago Fire Brigade Mr. Enrique Mac Iver, equivalent to the Malaysian Director General or Fire Commissioner, and also a renowned citizen in Chile, pronounced a speech that has had full meaning in this course. He said, and I quote 'Here gather to work and sacrifice, without other motivation than to comply with their duty, men of all races, who speak many languages and from all countries, demonstrating that over all frontiers and political borders, fire service extends a gold chain of universal fraternity'
This MTCP Road Traffic Accident course and the past two weeks in Malaysia were a proof of Mr. Mac Iver's words. We were twenty four participants who came from twenty one different countries. To be perfectly honest, some of which I had never heard from before.
In the two weeks at the academy we learned many lessons. We learned about road traffic accidents, safety precautions, medical considerations and different techniques for extrication. Also, we shared experiences in rescue among ourselves participants and with the instructors of the course. We must always remember that we as emergency responders owe ourselves to the people we serve, our community, and that compels us to always be fit to give our best. That is our duty. To learn and train, so that combined with experience, we will always give the best possible response to our community. That is our moral obligation.
Through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program, MTCP, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia has contributed to comply with that moral obligation, not only in Malaysia, but in twenty one countries, thus trespassing frontiers and differences of cultures and enhancing the brotherhood of emergency responders.
In the two weeks we were also able to appreciate the beauty of Malaysia and its people, and how many different ethnic backgrounds can live in harmony in such a beautiful manner. We took day trips to Genting Highland, Proton Factory, visited Kuala Lumpur, stayed in a wonderful Hotel and Spa, visited the eighty fifth floor of the twin towers, of course, went shopping, enjoyed a barbecue and the beach of the hotel, and visited Malacca.
During the course we shared many experiences and learned many lessons, that we are very certain that they will become very useful in our own countries. But as the weeks have gone by, looking back at this experience, it is hard to express in words all that we have gained. We are all humans, share the same basic needs, cherish our loved ones, and in particular, we are united as emergency responders since we share the same interests; to serve our community. This has created a bond and a sense of unity that trespasses all boarders and frontiers and all language and cultural differences.
I would like to express my deepest sense of gratitude and thanks to:
· Malaysia (through EPU) and the Malaysia Technical Cooperation Program, for making it possible for us to be here.
· Embassy of Malaysia and its staff, for making it possible to attend the ROTAM course
· Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia and its academy, for sharing with us your knowledge and for your hospitality.
· Course Coordinator, Mr Yusri, for all of his time dedicated to us and the organization of this course
· Leading Instructor, Mr. Jafaar, for wisdom and experience, for sharing with us your knowledge and giving us valuable advice
· Mr. Gregory for his kind guidance in all the preparations for our coming to Malaysia and his warmth
· To the staff of instructors of FRAM, to whom great pride must be taken on, since they are here so the rest of us can serve better.
· And to all who made this life experience possible.
Finally, I would like to thank my fellow participants, with whom we shared so many good moments and have made this a 'life experience'. We have departed but we will be connected, since in the two weeks we built solid bridges that will keep us united.
Sebastian Mocarquer, Santiago
Some photographs of the activities of the Chilean Fire Bridgade below:
