Expanding Emergency Medical Care: Training for Success

We're making strides in building local medical capacity in Honduras, particularly in the Comayagua region. With the collaboration of first responders, local hospital staff, and doctors from the National University, we've pinpointed critical areas of need in specialized training and equipment.

Over the past two years, VHC Medical Brigade has distributed Automatic Emergency Defibrillators (AEDs) across several fire departments and hospitals. However, given the scarcity of AEDs in the country, comprehensive training for their effective use became essential.

To address this, we centered our training on firefighters, who serve as first responders and manage ambulance services in the Comayagua area. A total of 29 first responders and emergency medical staff, including 23 firefighters, 4 nursing students, and 2 emergency room hospital staff, participated in this crucial training.

The training was conducted by two of our volunteer emergency medical doctors, who are not only leaders in emergency medicine in Honduras but also professors at the newly launched emergency medical residency training program for doctors.

The curriculum was meticulously designed to address severe emergencies and was specifically tailored for these life-saving professionals. It included triage, care during transport to hospitals, resuscitation, and effective interaction with emergency room intake teams. A significant focus was also placed on the use of AEDs.

Most hospitals in Honduras lack consistent protocols for smooth service transitions, as their ERs are typically managed by doctors trained in primary care. This training facilitated technical guidance and promoted collaboration and cross-learning between first responders and ER staff.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our volunteer doctors, our partner medical and first responder teams, our staff who helped coordinate and facilitate the training, our Lions Club hosts, and the donors who made this initiative possible. This enhanced training program is set to significantly improve life-saving care in critical moments, undoubtedly saving lives. Thank you for your continued support and for helping to make a difference where it's most needed.