Swimming to Safety

Swimming to SAFETY

As of today, two other volunteers and myself are presently the coordinators for a large learn-to-swim/water rescue/CPR/first aid program in Bamako, Mali. The following is a description of our future project and how you can help.

Executive Summary/Purpose

"The Protection Civile in Bamako, Mali are the United States equivalent to first responders. They are often called to fires, car/motorcycle accidents and even water related emergencies. Unfortunately, the vast majority of recruits cannot swim; most Sapeur-Pompier (firemen) are so fearful of water that they refuse to wade into the Niger River, even when an emergency requires it. By default the fishermen who ply the river and can swim are often relied on for searches, rescues, and extractions. This process of finding, recruiting, and agreeing on terms with the fishermen wastes precious time at the scene of all water related crises.

In the spring of 2007, the leader of the Protection Civile unit asked Peace Corps to help train the Sapeur-Pompier in basic swimming techniques and water rescue to better help and protect the people of Mali coming in contact with the Niger River in the Bamako area.

In response to this community need, two Peace Corps volunteers with past experience in swim instruction and first response designed a program to teach basic personal swim skills, river rescue techniques, and CPR. Over the course of a month, 24 individuals attended 40 hours of in-class instruction at a Bamako swimming pool and at later stages on the banks of the Niger River. On the last day of class, the recruits took a practical examination in the river simulating a rescue, testing them in personal swimming skills, water rescue techniques, first responding, and CPR. The class was followed by one day boat training and rescue practice in the middle of the Niger.

This introductory phase of the project was well received, with positive reviews from both the administration of the Protection Civile and the class participants themselves. The only criticisms presented were that the project wasn’t large enough to train all who needed it, or long enough.

With these results in mind, the two volunteers, plus several members of the initial class now acting as instructors, propose launching a program to teach 72+ new members of the Protection Civile personal swimming, rescue techniques, and first aid over two months. The class will include 48 hours of instruction (32 swimming, 16 first aid and CPR) and two days of practice in the river with the Sapeur Pompiers’ Zodiac rescue boat.

In addition to training the individual participants with swimming, rescue, and responding skills, the project will outfit the units of the Protection Civile with the rescue equipment introduced during the course. At the end of the class, certificates will be given to participants to reflect the level of skill they have attained at rescue swimming."

Details of the future 2009 Project:

Facility

We are in the process of closing a deal with a local organization, AMPHP, a handicap organization that runs and operates a trade/leisure facility. It houses a basketball court, swimming pool, office facilities, and countless trade offices (sewing, metalwork, etc). Within the week, the organization and Peace Corps will hopefully have a reasonable and agreed upon price for their pool. The pool will most likely cost no less than $2000.

Services

The Red Cross of Mali is going to provide their services. They will teach the CPR/First Aid portions of the training. We will specifically address swimming and water rescue skills. The program will be conducted March 16 - May 8, 2008. Below you will find a tentative schedule for the program:

Protection Civile		(12 people per class)
M & W	Team A	9am - 11am Swim lessons
		12pm - 1pm CPR/First Aid
	Team B	10am - 11am CPR/First Aid
		11am - 1pm Swim lessons
T & Th	Team C	9am - 11am Swim lessons
		12pm - 1pm CPR/First Aid
	Team D	10am - 11am CPR/First Aid
		11am - 1pm Swim lessons
Gendarmerie
Friday	Team A	9am - 11am Swim lessons
		12pm - 1pm CPR/First Aid
	Team B	10am - 11am CPR/First Aid
		11am - 1pm Swim lessons
		Total: 72+ participants

How YOU can Help

The funds needed to complete this project are needed before September 12, 2008 because the project has been online for almost a year (under another volunteer who is now leaving and handing it over to us). If the funds are not met we will have to become creative with our funds and donations :)

If you would like to donate please follow this link:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/donors/contribute/projdetail.cfm?projdesc=688-231&region=africa

If you would like to help out in another way please feel free to email me at
hollymlarsen@gmail.com