Under the slogan “When your pain is inevitable, to relieve it is my mission” Comandos de Salvamento will be doing their operation “Comandos to the Rescue 2013” held during Holy Week from March 24-30th. To inaugurate the operation, CDS performs an emergency drill on the beach of El Majahual where over 1,300 volunteers including 140 lifeguards participate to test their skills in the care of people who need aid.

Roberto Cortez Orlando Cruz, Executive Director of CDS reports the goal of yearly drills is to “assess the capabilities of lifeguards and volunteer lifeguards to meet their potential and move the right people to beaches and our first-aid highway stations during Holy Week “. The Salvadoran Air Force collaborates with a Huey helicopter and local fisherman offer two fishing boats to carry out evacuation of victims in shallow and deep waters.

EMS providers are prepared in basic first aid and advanced skills and lifeguards receive training at Obispo Beach for a year by CDS veterans who are residents of surrounding beach communities. The drill will also assess the quality of patient care from volunteers that will be located in the “El área de concentración de victimas” (beach hospital) where they will be triaged for rapid transport if need. CDS intends to serve Salvadorans during the upcoming Easter holidays and fulfill its mandate to “save the lives of people when they are in danger as a result of nature or of man.”

Fotos: Francisco Campos