Medical Relief Foundation

Jamaica's Future

MRF has secured donations of AEDs, AED simulators, AHA Instructional manuals, training CDs and EMS supplies from the Welch Allyn corporation, Phillips Medical, Rural Metro Medical Services, Jamesville (NY) Fire Department, Midstate New York EMS Council, the Central New York Parrothead Club, and the Northern Onondaga Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Soon the Jamaican Consulate will be assisting with the transport of four additional AEDs to Jamaica, in order to equip all of the JFB ambulances with this vital equipment.

MRF has met with many government officials in the Ministry of Health, The Jamaica Fire Brigade, The Ministry of Tourism, the University of the West Indies, and many hospitals to secure support and information regarding the needs of Jamaica's healthcare system. An official of the Ministry of Health is assisting with the dissemination of MRF's questionnaire to determine the needs of the many individuals. Once all of the Jamaica Fire Brigade ambulances are certified and equipped for AED use, the next goal will be to train and supply all of the EMTs and first-responders in AED use at the JFB stations which do not have stationed ambulances. This will provide critical additional coverage to citizens and visitors during those vital first minutes of a cardiac arrest. Additional training for the ambulance-based EMTs and more administrative development will occur on the next visits scheduled for November 2010 and February 2011.

The long-term goals for Jamaica include promoting Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training for the hospital’s Emergency Department, procuring equipment donations from American and Canadian hospitals, and assisting Jamaica's cardiac surgeons with training in advanced techniques. Efforts have begun to assist Jamaica EMS in its evolution toward full pre-hospital Advanced Life Support (ALS) status by securing funding for scholarships for EMTs from the University of the West Indies to attend paramedic schools in the United States.