Dominica is quickly becoming a leader in the delivery of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Programme.
The international programme for first responders which began in Dominica in 2013 has now graduated over 175 trainees.
Twenty-eight individuals from the north-west districts joined the ranks on Friday at the sixth closing ceremony.
The programme provides trainees with the basic skills needed to respond to community emergencies needs.
While the programme is being spearheaded by the Office of Disaster Management with funding support from the United National Development Programme (UNDP), other partners include the fire and ambulance services, the Local Government department and the GEF Small Grants Programme.
Basic techniques learnt included splinting, patient handling, conflict and resolution, search and rescue, basic map reading, and the use of radio communication.