Success! I have made it through the first week of training for Mercy Ships. This week we were tasked with completing basic training for the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, & Watchkeeping for Seafarers).

Our training class was made up of about 20 people who will be performing a variety of roles on the ship including doctors, teachers, and members of the PR/Media team.

Shortly after basic training began we learned that once we arrive on the ship there will be opportunities for some of us to volunteer to be part of various emergency teams.  The goal for basic training was to equip us for these teams as well as familiarize ourselves with the ship emergency operations in general so that we would be informed/helpful crew members even if certain aspects of emergency response were beyond our immediate responsibilities.

To begin the week we learned about fire science, firefighting techniques, and firefighting equipment.  Following our classroom portion of training we had our trial by fire as we geared up in full gear and breathing apparatuses to tackle a series of exercises and tests. We were tested in our speed of gearing up and our ability to retrieve a 170lb dummy from a pitch black smoke filled room. We put out a series of fires both individually (extinguishers) and as part of a hose team. To cap off our live exercises we were tasked with tackling a fire in an enclosed space in which temperatures approached 500 Deg. F.  It was a little warm but everyone made it through no worse for the wear.

Following firefighting we learned about general safety during shipping operations, first aid, CPR, and how to use an AED. Toward the end of the week we learned about personal survival which consisted mostly of worst case scenarios involving abandoning ship, how to launch survival craft, and the necessary steps to prepare for rescue. To end our basic training we were thrown into the deep end to perform a series of tests involving staying afloat, suiting up in immersion suits, and flipping a liferaft.

All in all it was a successful and action packed week with no serious injuries. I have a feeling the coming weeks will not be nearly as much fun. Regardless, onward we go to next week where we will be joined by more people for training to learn more detail about the mission and vision of the Mercy Ships organization.