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MARIGOT--The Préfecture organised its annual internal security open day in collaboration with the Collectivité for the first time in Grand Case in the car park of the Cultural Centre on Friday.
As usual this particular day shines the spotlight on the services that keep the population safe, day in day out all year round.
Organised in the form of an exhibition with information stands and demonstrations added for dramatic effect, the objective is to spread awareness of the role each service plays.
Those participating included the Gendarmerie, the French Red Cross, Police aux Frontières, Territorial Police, Fire Brigade (Sapeurs Pompiers) and the French-side sea rescue service SNSM.
Scores of school children attended the open day as focus is on getting a message of safety and prevention out to the youth. Pupils showed great interest browsing the stands and watching the demonstrations.
The Gendarmerie gave a demonstration of extracting and arresting suspects from a car while a sniffer dog found a bag of drugs hidden in the vehicle.
The Fire Brigade showed what they do at the scene of an automobile accident by first stabilising the victims inside the carriage. They demonstrated use of a hydraulic cutter to take off a car door to extract the victims.
Opening remarks were made by Préfète Anne Laubies, Territorial Councillor Louis Fleming, and Adelaide Brooks, mother of cyclist Adelio Brooks.
Laubies emphasised how important it is in a climate of increasing terrorist attacks around the world to know the first steps to take to help an injured victim if one happens to be the first responder on the scene.
She added that having the basic knowledge of what to do is applicable in the home too if a family member suffers a minor accident.
Courses are currently being organised for the public to learn the first four steps to help a victim before the ambulance arrives. Certificates will be presented in La Savane Saturday morning from the first course.
Louis Fleming noted career opportunities are out there for the youth in any of the services.
The Préfète also drew attention to the importance of being seen by other road users at night or in poor light conditions. This applies particularly to cyclists, riders of two wheeled vehicles, and also joggers and walkers. High visibility fluorescent vests and arm bands were distributed by one of the stands.
In light of a recent fatal accident involving a cyclist on the Airport Boulevard, VCG cyclist Adelio Brooks lent his image as the poster boy for this “Be Flashy, Stay Alive†campaign.
