They often put their lives at risk helping others. But the good Samaritans who volunteer their services in Barbados’ Roving Response team will tell you they are only following a passion.
Coordinator Dennis Lashley says: “The good part of volunteering is that whether or not you receive thanks from the patient or the person you are helping, you get a continual sense of doing something for someone that makes a difference to them.”
When Ishmael Patel first approached Clive Lorde at the Central Emergency Relief Organisation 18 years ago for assistance in finding volunteers for the special team he wanted to assemble to respond to emergencies across Barbados, Ishmael, too, felt the community needed help from people who would not be expecting any kind of public gratitude in return for the work they would be doing.
Today there are 36 men, with 25 four by four vehicles outfitted with all types of equipment required at scenes of emergencies and hazards, on 24-hour alert to respond wherever they are called.
Critical feedback
They act as support for the Barbados Fire Service and the Royal Barbados Police Force, being first responders equipped to give critical feedback and assistance to the various Government emergency agencies. They work alongside these critical services as backup, even bringing water to quench the thirsts of the men and women fighting fire. Their mission is supported by the Department of Emergency Management.
Lashley says of the Roving Response Team: “We respond to anything that causes a disruption of normal life . . . all of the guys have been phenomenal in their response. When I call them any hour in the night, there is no hesitation to get out of bed. Even when they tell you they are tired, it is instantaneous.”
On a weekday afternoon when Lashley and team members Glenroy Layne and Ricardo Patrick meet for an interview with the Weekend Nation, there is noticeable excitement as they relate stories about various rescue experiences.
One immediately senses the strong bond between the three, with “buddy” reminding “buddy” of yet another call that tested their capacity and abilities.
Referring to last weekend’s flooding, Patrick relates: “I was home with my kids Sunday night when the phone rang at 1.30 a.m. and Glenroy said ‘Boy, we have problems’.”
Babysitting his children at the time, Patrick could not leave them, but he immediately got on the phone to wake up and mobilise a host of other team members.
He recalled the day two years ago when he happened upon a man trapped on the roof of his L200 vehicle submerged in rising water, and daringly led that rescue.
Many find it remarkable that a Roving Response Team member always seems to be in the right place at the right time. An accident occurs between a tractor and minibus at Weston, St James, and Layne is the one to be passing just then.
“I asked if anybody called the Fire Service. I called them back again, and the Fire Service said they heard, but I said, ‘No, you have to activate everybody right now. This is more than what you think it is’.” Hearing this from a member of the Roving Response Team, there is a speedy response from the Fire Service.
All-round training
To do an effective job, this team of private citizens must have training in many areas and they have all been exposed to specialised training – in first aid, firefighting, handling of hazardous materials, and water rescue.
Recognising the critical nature of the support job they voluntarily do, Government has facilitated a lot of that training.” Thank God, the Government stepped in and made it available to us,” Lashley said.
Individual Roving Response Team members have made massive personal investments in equipment such as first aid kits, respirators, special clothing like duck suits for wading in high water, chain saws, respirators, tools , some firefighting equipment, stretchers, security cones,all of which are as integral a part of their truckload as the spare tyre.
Yet Lashley points out: “We have never been out and said to people we need help, because we have always been pulling our own pockets to further us as a response team. But the equipment is not cheap.
“It has to last for a specific time, and then it gets to the stage where it has be thrown out, because once it goes past that expiry date, you are dealing with your own life,” and he is concerned that some of the equipment is quickly reaching that stage.
He added: “From the inception we always tried to see if people could understand our concept and fund us with the large amount that it cost us to be able to respond to any and every emergency.”
Government assists with a subvention, and there has been some private sector help.
Between February and October there were responses to 66 incidents. That number jumped to 112 as a result of last week’s flooding.
From oil spills on Barbados’ highways, to fatal vehicular accidents, to major tragedies like the Campus Trendz fire, the Joe’s River accident and the Arch Cot collapse, these men have witnessed it all and Lashley describes the “numbing effect”.
“Arch Cot was definitely more sombre, and at Joe’s River, the solemnity of seeing how people going to enjoy themselves had no course to avoid what had happened, that was very challenging for the guys that responded to it.”
And he is quick to admit; “These things do after a while tell on you, and the counselling that you have to go through to make sure that we are dealing with these things as they need to be really helps, because you can easily carry it home to your family”. Luckily, they have understanding families who support what they are doing, and willingly make the sacrifice of frequently being left at home while father, husband and soulmate goes out in the dark of night to help others.
But Lashley passionately remarks: “The last thing you want is not to be able to handle the stress of volunteering.”