New tactical medic trainers will help PSD “weather the most difficult of storms:” Canada

20 Oct. 2021

AMMAN: Jordan’s Public Security Directorate (PSD) this week marked an important milestone in its journey to provide life-saving critical incident response services to the country’s residents, celebrating the graduation of 13 emergency medical trainers.

The group of trainers, which comprised both men and women officers, was given specialised instruction on how to equip their colleagues with the medial skills needed to participate in tactical missions where there is a risk of injury to both civilians and security forces.

Once up-skilled by the newly qualified trainers, operational officers will be at ease deploying techniques that security forces worldwide use to sustain life before medical professionals are able to safely treat victims on-site. These techniques are used to treat issues like catastrophic bleeding, burns, blunt force trauma, fractures, as well as injuries from IEDs, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons.

“At the beginning of the course I was hesitant that I wouldn’t be able to apply the skills on the ground and would just have theoretical knowledge. However … I can now say I am confident enough to help and conduct more than basic medical support on- or off-duty,” one of the participants said.

This training was delivered in partnership by Siren and Dubai-headquartered consultancy Ark, as part of a package of support to the PSD that promotes the participation of women in operational roles. The initiative is funded by the Canadian government as part of its Feminist International Assistance Policy.

“As graduates of this training program, you have demonstrated not only your skills to serve in a time of crisis, but also your ability to teach others how to remain calm while delivering lifesaving medical aid,” Canada’s Ambassador to Jordan Donica Pottie said at the graduation event. “I am confident by the display I have seen today that the experience you have gained as trainers will help you and your colleagues weather the most difficult of storms.”

In addition to immediately boosting the PSD’s critical incident response capabilities, the graduation of the trainers demonstrates Jordan’s commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls upon UN member states to work toward ensuring the active participation of women in the security sector and in peacekeeping missions.

Since Siren-Ark’s Policing Support Team began supporting the PSD in this area in 2017, several of the female officers who have been through our tactical firearms and search course, or tactical medical course, have been deployed on UN peacekeeping missions.