Comandos de Salvamento

Veteran EMS worker Edgar Jhonny Ramos directs crews below in drill of 2009.

Every year, Comandos de Salvamento will be doing another massive rescue simulation drill at the beaches of El Majahual La Libertad this coming Sunday March 21. Such activity is to keep our rescue and EMS skills sharpened for the upcoming Holy Week vacations in April.

All resources and training gear will be within the scope of care that CDS offers to the Salvadoran public along with the support of the Salvadoran Airforce. The FAS will be offering to collaborate as they do every year with a Huey UH Helicopter and will be doing manuevers with Comando EMS personell. Do not miss this opportunity to observe the Comandos work starting at 8am. For pictures of last years event please click above foto for flickr. Video below.

Foto and Video: Marco Hoffman

La Prensa Grafica and El Diario del hoy published an assault taking place in plain daylight today by photojournalist Nilton Garcia.  A youth named Johnatan Alexander Durán was robbing another peer named Carlos Francisco Garay, a student of INFRAMEN highschool. Police on scene transported Carlos to a hospital, but to no avail. Johnatan got away with robbing a shirt.  As a result of the documentary work, Johnatan and his accomplice Blanca Cecilia Navarro are facing criminal charges. Click the image for the documentary essay. Good Job Nilton.

Asalto plena calle.

The main base of Comandos de Salvamento sent two veteran instructors to the eastern part of the country to train affiliated base EMTs about what to expect during Holy Week Holiday coming up in April. The main exercise was a simulated Motor Vehicle Accident in which EMS workers learned basic patient management while improving extrication skills. Eastern Comando bases included in the training were  Santa Ana, El Congo, Juayua, Sapotitán and Tepecoyo. Holy Week is infamously known in El Salvador as one of the busiest vacation times where there is an increase in MVAs. Comando workers throughout the country are “Siempre Pendiente“-Ever Ready” for accidents and other traumatic events.

Fotos: CDS

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On March 8th, a ceremony in honor of Salvadoran Women took place in celebration of International Woman’s Day. It took place in Las Cascadas shopping mall located in Angiguo Cuscatlán. Present were the Mayor of Antiguo, Milagro Navas, (middle) other professionals and veteran EMS worker Guadalupe Teos de Argueta from the Antiguo Base.  Guadalupe has been a Comando volunteer for many years and CDS is proud to have her honored. Congratulations Guadalupe!

The CDS soccer team was recently crowned Champions of the “Torneo de fútbol Industrial”. Over twenty teams participated in the event including teams from public and private businesses. Comando players take great pride in playing soccer by representing the humanitarian institution of comandos and strive to be at the top every year. Fotos: CDS

Un Comando combatiendo contra los zancudos de Soyapango.

EMS crews from CDS in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Munincipal Mayors office of Soyapango, fumigated 990 homes in the neighborhood of Colonia San José II. The fumigation campaign continues this Tuesday in Berlin, Usulutan. Fumigation crews asks for permission from citizens to enter their homes in order to eradicate mosquitos and subsequent larvae that carry the dengue virus.

Fotos: CDS

North American Doctor Brett Spitnale MD, spent the last fifteen days of his vacation working with CDS. During his stay he offered training to staff, went on health brigades to outlying communities affected by last years storm “Tropical Ida”, and attended to patients in the emergency walk in clinic. Although very busy, Brett was able to find some time to enjoy El Salvador’s infamous national food, “Las Pupusas”.

The governing board of Comandos gave him a certificate of recognition for his humanitarian labor to CDS.

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Fotos: Comandos de Salvamento

EMS workers from the fumigation team titled, “Unidad de Vectores” prepare mosquito fogging machines for an upcoming day trip this Saturday to fumigate in the department of Usulután and after-wards in the Department of San Miguel. The institution assures that this will help lower cases of Dengue by eradicating mosquitoes and subsequent larvae. While in Usulután CDS hopes to fumigate up to two thousand five hundred homes.

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A 15 year old patient only identified as Guillermo was rescued from a cliff in front of a soccer field in the neighborhood Colonia Villa Hermosa in San Luis Mariona, north of San Salvador. The patient presented with numerous lacerations to his face caused by a knife.  Lead brigade leader, Edgar Jhony Ramos and other EMTs applied dressings and assured integrity of his airway.  Comandos then used climbing gear and a rescue litter to recover the patient and transported to Zacamil Hospital. Other EMTs present were Carlos Vásquez, Xiomara Vásquez, Elver Flores y Ronald Castro.

Agents from the National Civilian Police on scene commented that the youth could be involved with gangs.  Violence has increased to unsurmountable levels among students and other adolescents in El Salvador over the last decade.

Fotos: Francisco Campos