Beekeepers Acquire Emergency First Aid Training

As part of the ongoing Apiculture Farmer Field School (FFS) series of programs organized by the Veterinary & Livestock Services Division to promote sustainable and responsible beekeeping practices, over 40 Apiculture Farmers received emergency training in beekeeping harvesting.

The July 13, 2023, initiative also covered various aspects of beekeeping, ranging from hive management to honey harvesting techniques.

Tailoring the curriculum to address specific needs, risk and the importance of first aid skillsets is workshop facilitator Ireneus Henry.

“In the training, we basically have four modules. The first module focuses on first aid basics, covering the prevention of infection, and injury, and how to assess a patient. In the second module, we will address medical emergencies such as diabetes, seizures, asthma, and other medical crises. The third module will concentrate on injury emergencies, including fractures, burns, and bites. Finally, in the last module, we will examine environmental emergencies, for example, heat emergencies and that sort,” remarked, workshop facilitator, Ireneus Henry.

The first aid component in the Apiculture Farmer Field School initiative paves the way for further integration in safety and emergency response training in similar agricultural programs. Charis Auguste-Hyacinth is the programme Coordinator.

“It’s about the wellness of industry and sustainability. We don’t want farmers to be injured, and they cannot continue with their work. So, this is a way of mitigating and controlling the effect of the larger incident and having beekeepers gain the skills and appreciation for emergencies for themselves, their families, and the community at large,” noted Programme Coordinator, Charis Auguste-Hyacinth.

The Apiculture Farmer Field School initiative continues to make significant strides in fostering sustainable and responsible apiculture practices by enhancing the knowledge and emergency techniques of beekeepers islandwide.