BVI Red Cross Certifies New Instructors
As part of its 70th anniversary, the BVI Red Cross trained and certified three additional American Red Cross First Aid Instructors during a three-day workshop held 19–21 January 2026. The new instructors bring the territory’s total to nine certified trainers, boosting local capacity to deliver life‑saving first aid training across the Virgin Islands.
The BVI Red Cross has expanded its training capacity by certifying three new First Aid Instructors through an American Red Cross programme, the organisation announced. The certification took place during a three‑day workshop from 19 to 21 January 2026 led by American Red Cross–certified trainer Joanna Coiselyn Pierre of the Dominican Red Cross.
Participants who completed the instructor course were Trishawna Lawrence and Aiesha Roberts of the BVI Red Cross and Jacob Adolphus of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM). Their qualification will allow them to teach first aid courses locally and help scale the number of people across the territory trained in basic life‑saving skills.
According to the BVI Red Cross, this training is part of the organisation’s 70th Anniversary activities and represents a strategic investment in local capacity. The additional instructors increase the Red Cross’s roster to nine certified trainers able to deliver classes across the islands, a development the organisation says will strengthen community preparedness and resilience.
Building a larger pool of qualified instructors is particularly relevant for the BVI given its geographic layout, tourism activity, and exposure to storm and marine incidents. More local trainers mean more frequent courses, shorter wait times for certification, and quicker community access to skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), wound management, and emergency response until professional services arrive.
The Director of the BVI Red Cross noted the long‑term benefits of investing in training and local expertise, saying that stronger local capacity directly supports the organisation’s mission to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises. The Red Cross also highlighted partnerships with regional Red Cross societies in delivering instructor education and maintaining standards.
Persons and companies interested in becoming first aid certified can register by calling 494‑6349, emailing admin@redcross.vg, or submitting a request through the BVI Red Cross website at https://redcross.vg/get-involved/get-trained/. The BVI Red Cross is an overseas branch of the British Red Cross and a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the world’s largest humanitarian network.
Primary source: BVI News