Thirty-nine people have been chosen for the second phase of the Interior Ministry’s Civil Defence Service Volunteering Programme, a top official has said.
This follows up from the first phase, launched in May last year, which saw around 200 individuals register for the chance to serve the community.
According to Civil Defence officer Captain Mohammed Al Rayes, the new batch will undergo necessary training and orientation to prepare them for their roles as volunteer firefighters, rescuers and first aid respondents.
Capt Al Rayes
“The main aim is to have first respondents in as many areas around the kingdom as possible,” said Capt Al Rayes.
“We will train the volunteers on how to react and what to do in case of emergencies, and how to perform their roles, which will be mainly to support the authorities when needed.
“We have chosen 39 individuals for the second phase, all of whom underwent assessment and interviews to see whether they are fit for the role.
“Their skills and knowledge will be tested and once certified, we know they will be a valuable asset to the community.”
The Civil Defence Service Volunteering Programme was launched last year in accordance with the instructions of Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, and the follow-up of Public Security chief Lieutenant General Tariq Al Hassan.
It was inaugurated by Civil Defence director-general Brigadier Ali Al Kubaisi to raise awareness and social responsibility among members of society and enhance community partnerships.
According to Capt Al Rayes, the programme includes training courses and workshops on life-saving skills.
“The selected participants will undergo a course that will run for about 16 weeks,” he said.
“Most of the training courses will be practical, and are designed to teach them relevant skills that they will need for being a volunteer.
“Among the most important things that they will learn include first aid, firefighting and what to do in case of a fire, how to perform evacuations safely and how to handle dangerous items and substances.
“All programmes will be held under the strict supervision of experts and professionals, and are designed in a way that all volunteers can do them.”
Capt Al Rayes urged people interested in signing up for the next phase of the programme to fill out a volunteer form online on the National Civil Protection Platform (ncpp.gov.bh), provided they meet the relevant conditions.
Volunteers must be physically fit Bahraini nationals of at least 21-years-old.
They must not have been expelled from the Public Security Forces, Defence Force, National Guard, or the National Intelligence Agency for any reason.
Applicants will have to pass health and fitness tests and psychological tests such as those relating to fear of heights, the dark, or narrow spaces.
Additionally, they need to be at least 168 cm tall. Weight and height must be proportional and all applicants must have a high school certificate.
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