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Comandos de Salvamento UDR instructor Marlon Rivas led a workshop in Motor Vehicle Extrications at our Central Base this last weekend .
The event included early morning exercises, class lectures, and written tests. At the end of the weekend, students were able to put their skills to the test while under duress and artifical stressors were implemented to mimic real life context of an MVA in downtown El Salvador or during a chaotic natural disaster. Teachers of the class exposed students to psychological stress while practicing extrications and stabilization of make believe patients. When Marlon was asked why he was exposing the students to stress while training he responded that the average Comando rescuer is exposed to the adverse weather and social elements of Salvadoran society at times without sleep or much to eat for days on end. During a mass casualty incident or natural disaster, these themes are exacerbated and a rescuer needs to be prepared.
