Category: Fire/Rescue Equipment

AMEDICAusa Receives Guatemalan Humanitarian Award

 

AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown receives the Monja Blanca Award from Guatemala Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen. Willams Mansilla Fernandez. 

AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown receives the Monja Blanca Medal from Guatemala Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen. Williams Mansilla Fernandez.

AMEDICAusa Receives Guatemala’s Highest Civilian Award  

GUATEMALA CITY–  The Monja Blanca Medal was presented today to AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown. The award ceremony followed the conclusion of the organization’s annual FIre and Rescue Training School in Guatemala. The week long school brings together both firefighters and military rescue specialists from around the country to train in fire and rescue techniques. Provided in partnership with North Carolina’s REDS Team, the program enjoys wide support from both the military and fire service communities.

The medal, named for the national flower of Guatemala, is also a prestigious military decoration within the armed forces. It is awarded to those who provide exceptional humanitarian service to the people of Guatemala. Previous recipients have included Mexico’s Special Technical Rescue Team, members of CONRED (the Guatemalan Disaster Relief agency) and Officers of the military’s Unidad Humanitaria y Rescate (UHR) technical rescue team.

AMEDICAusa was recognized for their work in medical care, education, and disaster relief and training throughout Guatemala. Both Neale Brown and the Members of the REDS Team also received individual awards and certificates from the Ministry of Defense in recognition of their efforts on behalf of the people of Guatemala.

AMEDICAusa-Neale Brown teaching Firefighters in Guatemala

Neale Brown instructing firefighters in Guatemala (REDS Team Photo)

 

Humbled and Proud of Award

“This was a complete surprise and I am humbled by the award.” said Brown. ” I knew nothing about it until the ceremony had begun. I am, of course, proud of the work we do and all of the donors and volunteers who make it possible. Without the people who make it all work, like the REDS Team, we would not be able to accomplish what we have. Our job now is to continue to earn the honor every day.”

AMEDICAusa provides aid in three main areas. Besides working with the firefighters of Guatemala as part of their disaster relief efforts, they also work to provide medical care and educational support to the poor and indigenous peoples of the country. For the week after the ceremony, Brown and AMEDICAusa volunteers travelled to several different locations in Guatemala, distributing donated equipment and meeting with a variety of local officials.

Silvana Ayuso receives Monja Blanca Award - AMEDICAusa

Silvana Ayuso receives Monja Blanca Award

This is the second time that members of AMEDICAusa have been recognized by Guatemala for their efforts. AMEDICAusa Vice President, Silvana Ayuso, also received the award of the Monja Blanca in 2015 for her long and continued work on behalf of the people of Guatemala.

 

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

Fundación esta Alojando un Clase para Bomberos Guate

 

AMEDICAusa - Entrenando Bomberos en Guatemala

Bomberos!  Entrena como su vida depende de ello!

Las clases para Bomberos estarán el 3 – 7 de octubre en la Ciudad de Guatemala

 

Dos fundaciones de los Estados Unidos, The REDS Team, (el equipo rojos) y AMEDICAusa son compañeros en esta formación de los Bomberos guatemaltecos.

El REDS Team es un grupo famoso de especialistas de rescate tecnica.  Han entrenado muchos Cuerpos de bomberos en los Estados Unidos y alrededor del mundo.  Este es sus cuarto viaje a enseñar en Guatemala.

AMEDICAusa es un fundación por ayuda médico, educación y la ayuda del desastres en Guatemala y Centroamérica.  Ofrecen equipos y capacitación para los bomberos y paramédicos de Guatemala.

Las clases se ofrecen en conjunto con personal rescate de el ejército que estarán presentes en la formación también.

La clases incluyen :

 La seguridad y la supervivencia de los bomberos

Técnicas para el rescate del vehículo

Embalaje paciente para rescate de la montaña

Técnicas de rescate de la cuerda

La construcción de estructuras de madera para rescate

Escaleras y armazones para el rescate

…y mas.  Todas las clases serán enseñadas con poca charla como es posible. La mayoría del tiempo será utilizado realmente haciendo el trabajo.

 

¡La Escuela es gratuita!

Con la cooperación amable del Ministerio de la Defensa, la escuela será impartida en la Base aérea antigua en la Ciudad de Guatemala. Toda la comida, el alojamiento y la formación son proporcionados gratuitamente a los que participan. Camisetas serán dadas a todos los participantes y es hasta posible que algún equipo pueda ser donado a su cuerpo de bomberos al final de semana.

¿Quién puede participar?

La capacitación esta abierta para cualquier miembro de un Cuerpo de bomberos oficial. No importa si eres municipal o voluntario (u hombre o mujer). Los participantes deberán entrenar a su propio Cuerpo de bombero. Se necesita una recomendación de un oficial de su grupo para participar. Dos bomberos de cada departamento pueden asistir.  Darán la preferencia a aquellos grupos con los cuales hemos trabajado antes si las clases están llenas.

¿Cómo puedo registrarme?

Para registrarse, hable con su Jefe de grupo local. El o ella pueden registrar a dos miembros de su compañía poniéndose en contacto con Silvana Ayuso, Vice-Presidente de AMEDICAusa, por correo electrónico (silvanayuso@gmail.com) o al teléfono (5201-9757).

¿Qué tengo que traer?

Su E.P.P. …ropas, casco, y botas. PROTECCIÓN DE OJOS.  Su ropa y sus artículos personales para esos días.

Por más información contacta:

 Silvana Ayuso  silvanayuso@gmail.com   o   5201-9757

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Ambulance and Medical Supplies Headed to Firefighters in Guatemala


Joint Project of Swiss NGO and AMEDICAusa, Inc.
takes equipment to Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

A Swiss non-profit, Ambulance4Guatemala, and AMEDICAusa, a non-profit headquartered in Frederick, Maryland have teamed up in an effort to provide donated emergency equipment and supplies to firefighters in Guatemala. A used ambulance, stocked with medical supplies, is now on its way to the small city of Santa Cruz Muluá in western Guatemala where it will serve two different municipalities and the small villages that surround them. About 30,000 families or roughly 100,000 people live in the area, most are impoverished.

 

Picking up the Ambulance in NJ - AMEDICAusa

AMBULANCE4GUATEMALA in New Jersey with unit bound for Guatemala

The Swiss group, Sara Berhend, an attorney, Dr. Claudine Moser, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Pierre Martin are delivering the ambulance by driving it over 3000 miles to Guatemala. They raised most of the money for the purchase of the ambulance and travel expenses from private donors in Europe and combined efforts with AMEDICAusa who works closely with Guatemala’s fire services to provide equipment and training throughout the country.

Stocking the Ambulance3 - AMEDICAusa

Medical Supplies loaded onto the ambulance at AMEDICAusa in Frederick, Maryland

AMEDICAusa provided additional funds for the purchase of the ambulance, filled it with donated medical supplies, and provided technical expertise as well as assistance in selecting the recipient departments in Guatemala.

The Swiss team travelled from Zürich to New Jersey where they picked up the ambulance and began their travels, first to Frederick, Maryland. There they loaded the vehicle with emergency medical equipment and supplies at AMEDICAusa’s headquarters, then continued their journey toward Guatemala. They expect to arrive in Guatemala before August 20th.

Enroute to Guatemala - AMEDICAusa

Ambulance and team continue on their way to Guatemala

Ambulance donation enables unique solution for two cities

“There are two cities involved here,” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa. “One, Santa Cruz Muluá, had a small Fire Department already in service and some experience with running an ambulance. Unfortunately, their old ambulance has broken down leaving them with nothing. The neighboring city, San Felipe, had previously approached AMEDICAusa about starting a Fire Department in their municipality, but are just now starting the construction of their Fire Station, and they are not ready for the equipment yet.” Neither department had yet acquired a fire engine and depend on bucket brigades and help from distant cities for fire protection.

Teniente Wilfredo Morales y Maydi Aguilar Y Silvana Ayuso - AMEDICAusa

AMEDICAusa with city and fire dept. officials in Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

“When the question came up about who should get the ambulance, we saw an opportunity to broker a deal with the two cities to enable us to serve a great many more people.” Said Brown, who has just returned from a series of meetings in Guatemala.

“We had already committed to assisting San Felipe with starting a fire department and had acquired a fire engine for them. Our initial thought was that the ambulance would go there as well. The problem was that the station is not yet built nor have they hired the firefighters and medics to staff it. We really didn’t want the ambulance to sit in the elements unused in the interim. While visiting the area, we became aware that Muluá had the opposite problem. They had the firefighters and a small station, but no ambulance.

San Felipe Church - AMEDICAusa

The Church at San Felipe, Guatemala

So, we met with the Mayors and Fire Chiefs, and arrived at a solution. The ambulance will go to Muluá, and they will use it to respond to both cities, beginning immediately. When the fire engine is ready, it and the accompanying rescue equipment will go to San Felipe, who will in turn cover Muluá.

Fire Engine for San Felipe, Guatemala - AMEDICAusa

Fire Engine for being readied for donation to San Felipe, Guatemala

AMEDICAusa will be providing joint training to both departments as well, so they can work together effectively.”

While such “mutual aid” agreements are fairly commonplace within the United States, they are rare in Central America.

 

Unusual Cargo to Fire Dept, San Cristóbal, Guatemala

San Cristóbal, Totonicapán, Guatemala-

AMEDICAusa volunteers arrived at the Fire Department here with an SUV filled with, by Firefighter standards, very unusual cargo.

AMEDICAusa bringing donated goods to the Fire Dept of San Cristóbal, Totonicapán, Guatemala

AMEDICAusa bringing donations to the Fire Dept of San Cristóbal, Totonicapán, Guatemala

Donated by the well-to-do of Guatemala City and others, the boxes, bags and cases contain not helmets, nozzles or other tools of the trade, but instead dresses, chic sportswear and other goods one might expect to find in a good downtown store.

 

Fire Departments in Guatemala receive little in the way of public funds. There are no property tax bases, government grants or city budgets to defray the costs of operation. Each department must find, or create, its own sources of funds, just to keep the doors open month to month. Some rent space in their fire station to small businesses, some sell potable bottled water, and some allow the creation of a marketplace in their parking lot.

In this case the donated goods will be sold in what amounts to a yard sale to raise money to help keep the lights on and the doors open.

Donated Fire Engine for delivery to San Cristóbal, Guatemala - AMEDICAusa

Donated Fire Engine for delivery to San Cristóbal

Part of AMEDICAusa‘s effort to train and equipment firefighters around this Central American country, this mission is a prelude to the delivery of a new used Fire Engine and equipment acquired and donated by a joint effort between The REDS Team, of North Carolina and AMEDICAusa .

 

 

.

 

“The first line of defense in any disaster is the local Fire Service –  firefighters and paramedics.”  

– Neale Brown, retired Fire Department Officer and Paramedic, President of AMEDICAusa. 

 

The REDS Team with donated fire equipment bound for Guatemala - AMEDICAusa

REDS Team members packing donated fire equipment bound for Guatemala 

“By undertaking a proactive mission to equip and train these departments, we hope to make more of a difference in disaster situation in Guatemala,” Said Brown. “The first 72 hours after an incident begins are the most important, that’s when lives are saved and the most property salvaged. Unfortunately, that is also before international disaster relief teams can arrive.”

 

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for good, new or used Fire, Rescue and EMS equipment  to help in Guatemala.  Contact Us!

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

New Friends at Panajachel Fire Station

Fire Chief Panajachel Guatemala - AMEDICAusa

Don Julio, Chief of Department, Panajachel

33 Compañía , CVB, Panajachel, is a typical Guatemalan Fire Department. Located across Lake Atitlán from the village of Tzununá, it houses an elderly donated U.S. Engine company, a makeshift taker, ambulance and an old rescue boat. They host a marketplace in their parking lot to try and raise a few funds for operations. As part of our efforts at Tzununá we stopped in to talk with them and see what equipment they had and what they might need. They, like every department in Guatemala, are short of hose, nozzles and personal protective equipment… but in particular, they had no portable lighting system to allow them to operate at night.

Panajachel Fire Apparatus - AMEDICAusa

33 Compañía CVB – Panajachel Fire Dept.

AMEDICAusa has now acquired a donated portable generator, work lights and electrical cables for Company 33 which are now awaiting shipment to Guatemala.