Kosovo Protection Corps in Vitina, Kosovo

by Dirk A. Christian MAJ, AR Task Force S3 TF TORNADO

Yesterday afternoon, 09DEC05, we delivered two complete sets of donated technical rope rescue equipment to the Vitina Fire Brigade and to Detachment 363 of the Kosovo Protection Corps in Vitina, Kosovo. This completes our project to build and outfit the first ever municipal technical rescue team in the province of Kosovo. We could not have done it without the assistance of all of the equipment donors and vendors, as well as technical and logistical assistance from various donors and supporters of this project and the "behind the scenes" work of my friends back in the United States. The Adjutant General of Kansas (who is also the Director of Emergency Management for the State of Kansas) was on hand yesterday to witness the good work that we have done here together.

Just to RECAP: In the past nine months, we have trained 35 team members (combined) over the course of two separate training courses in a course that I developed called "Introduction to Technical Rope Rescue." This training was conducted in English and translated into Albanian and Serbo-Croatian during instruction. We wrote sample Standard Operating Guidelines for the Vitina Technical Rescue Team and had them translated in 3 languages. All training references were provided to both agencies in all 3 languages in paper and media formats. We discussed the implementation of a Emergency Operations Center in Vitina and taught additional courses on Incident Management and the unified command system model. All of this would have been for nothing without the generosity of all who donated equipment.

To date, we have received equipment donations from ASR, CMC Rescue, Sierra Factoring, LLC, RescueDirect / Starved Rock Outfitters, and TEC Rescue of Kansas. We have a pledge for a large equipment donation from PMI and it is scheduled to ship from the U.S. in the next few days. We are still accepting any donations that are out there and have a few additional items that we need to train the team on, to include a traditional wire stokes basket. We used a SKED for initial training and then received a traditional stokes as a donation. I also want to thank Dive Rescue International in Fort Collins, CO for their assistance in getting this project "kick started" with me. Thanks, Guys! I have enclosed a few photos from yesterday and will send more upon request. Bottom Line Up Front: In 9 months, we have trained, standardized, and equipped the first technical rescue team in the province of Kosovo and could not have done it without your support and assistance. Thank you on behalf of all involved on this end, over here in Kosovo. Certificates of Appreciation and letters of appreciation are on the way for all that donated and assisted. It is just a small token of our appreciation.

American Safety & Rescue, Inc.

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