Free training for first responders and community leaders in COVID-19 management and natural disasters
Friday, April 17, 2020; San Juan, Puerto Rico – Faced with the current threat of the global pandemic, the Hurricane Hub (PRHRH) is part of the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust (PRPHT) created by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust has expanded its offerings to include trainings for individuals, organizations, and first responders to handle COVID-19. Some of these trainings include:
New Themes and Tools
- Coronavirus, hurricanes, and resilience
- Affordable housing, equity, and security for families
- Well-being of primary health workers
- State, national, and global resources
“Currently, there is a lot of concern and anxiety among our first-response professionals regarding the management of this situation and we have training that can be of great help to these heroes who are in the first line of defense against this novel disease of COVID-19,” highlighted Leslie Maas-Cortés, director of the Hurricane Hub. “We urge all police, fire, paramedics, health and public health personnel and all those who work to provide direct service to this emergency to request their training today,” said Maas Cortés.
The Hurricane Hub is currently preparing its first virtual training session for the Expert-Led Outreach Project for Community Health Care Outcomes (ECHO) on the topic Resilience and Psychological Help for First Responders, Community Leaders and Public Health Workforce. Its launch is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Register Here: https://prsciencetrust.org/proyectoecho.
The goal is to train the workforce and facilitate training, technical assistance, and the exchange of public health information through professionals involved in recovery related to hurricanes, disasters, and now COVID-19.
The Hurricane Hub is part of five established centers in Texas, Louisiana, Florida Georgia, and Puerto Rico. The program is an effort sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Network of Institutes of Public Health (NNPHI) to improve recovery efforts from environmental and occupational health of the jurisdictions affected by the hurricanes.
The Hurricane Hub has stood out for offering specialized disaster personnel training on various topics related to emergencies such as: monitoring and training tools, how to deal with deaths, injuries and illnesses after a disaster, community assessment in emergency response (CASPER by its acronym in English), disaster epidemiology and shelter management, among others.
“We cannot overlook the fact that the hurricane season is just around the corner and a hurricane that affects Puerto Rico could complicate the situation, so we must be prepared and forewarned against this reality,” Maas Cortés concluded.
For more information about our services, access our portal https://prsciencetrust.org/prhrh/ Â and / or request your free training here: prsciencetrust.org/prhrhtac-application
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About the Science, Technology and Research Trust: The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, as described in Public Law 214, is a non-profit organization created in 2004 to promote participation and job creation on the Island in the global knowledge economy by promoting investment and financing of research and development of science and technology. By investing in technology research and commercialization, the Trust serves as a catalyst for job creation and retention for highly skilled and often bilingual Island residents. It is also responsible for Puerto Rico’s public policy for science, technology, research, and development. For more information: www.prsciencetrust.org
