Trauma experts forge partnership with Lankan EMS workers

Oregon emergency health experts will share their expertise with 11 Sri Lankan fire and rescue workers this month-implementing a one-of-a-kind educational exchange between Sri Lanka and Oregon.

The Sri Lankan delegates, who arrive in Oregon today, include staff from Medical Teams International’s Sri Lanka office, the country’s Trauma Secretariat leader, its National EMS Advisor and firefighters from Colombo.

Several Oregon and Washington first responders have already trained these fire and rescue workers to save lives in Sri Lanka through Medical Teams International’s in-country EMS programme, which began in 2006.

These same men, in turn, have taught hundreds of other Sri Lankan emergency personnel to respond appropriately to disasters, traumas and other injuries. Now, they’ll take the next step to ensure their Sri Lankan communities have the best emergency services possible.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake recently recognised the groundbreaking work of Medical Teams International’s staff and volunteers in Sri Lanka, citing the lifesaving training that will serve the country for generations to come.

The Sri Lanka visit is part of an EMS Educational Exchange programme sponsored by Medical Teams International. Volunteers with the agency, including firefighters/paramedics from several Oregon-based agencies, have trained hundreds of Sri Lankan firefighters, police and hospital workers in pre-hospital emergency care.

The exchange is the latest project in a nationwide initiative by the Portland-based aid agency to bring emergency medical services to all Sri Lankans.

The Sri Lankans will also meet with leaders from the State of Oregon’s Health Services EMS and Trauma section, who sent several staff members to Sri Lanka in 2007.

As part of its EMS curriculum, Medical Teams International published an international textbook for pre-hospital care in 2005. Produced internationally in eight languages, the 700-page textbook is the only comprehensive manual translated for both Sinhala- and Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans.

“This training will make a lifesaving difference for millions of Sri Lankans nearly the entire nation,” explains Paul Bollinger, emergency medical services senior advisor at Medical Teams International.

“Our delegates will take these new skills back to Sri Lanka where they will instruct hundreds of other trauma workers in the country. The impact of this exchange will bear fruit for years to come.”