On 7 December, for the first time ever, the IAEA’s School of Radiation Emergency Management celebrated the certification of trainees from the Caribbean. The successful completion of the School’s two-week course by the 23 students represents a crucial transfer of knowledge to the participating Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States. Reflecting their shared history of collaboration, the IAEA co-organized the training event with the Nuclear Power Institute of Texas A&M University (TAMU), whose campus in College Station, Texas hosted the participating experts and trainees.
An effective response to a national emergency relies upon preparation, and the necessary preparations cannot be made without consistent and comprehensive training. To help ensure that national authorities are well-trained and well-prepared to respond to a radiation emergency, the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre launched the School of Radiation Emergency Management in 2015.
The challenges and obstacles which emerge during a nuclear or radiological emergency can be exceedingly complex, and their resolution depends upon open communication, clearly-defined roles and responsibilities, and above all, on preparation. The IAEA’s School of Radiation Emergency Management inculcates its students with these fundamental best practices, and teaches them how to develop emergency management systems, how to engage with the public, and when to deploy protective measures.
“This is a very important topic and we hope that this training will contribute to the safety and well-being of the public in the CARICOM countries. We were delighted to host the Agency staff and experts and the participants here in Texas for this event,” explained Kenneth Peddicord, Director of the Nuclear Power Institute.
