Salaam Foundation launches search and rescue team
This team of young men will be deployed at the time of need to extreme rescue operations as well as the general humanitarian work of Salaam Foundation when the time arises.
The Salaam Foundation Search and Rescue (SFSR) is a project of Salaam Foundation which began in September 2023.
The purpose of the project is to build a competent and well-equipped search and rescue team.
Search and rescue teams play a crucial role in locating and assisting missing individuals or individuals in distress. The purpose of a search and rescue team encompasses saving lives, providing medical aid, and offering comfort to both victims and their families.
Through specialised skills, coordination, and determination, they navigate complex environments to ensure the safety and well-being of those in need.
During December 2023 the team underwent their first training alongside IHH Arama Kurtarma (Search and Rescue) in Bursa Turkey. A few of the training areas included disaster awareness, first aid awareness, teamwork and communications in disasters, ethics and disaster psychology. These sessions were coupled with the basics of outdoor and mountain rescue and outdoor survival.
SFSR team members have also been certified with first aid level 3.
Currently, the team is looking to upskill themselves in floodwater search and rescue through relevant training institutes in South Africa. Due to climate change, South Africa is experiencing several shifts in rainfall patterns which increases the risk of flooding in various parts of the country.
Director of Salaam Foundation, Fatima Sookharia, said: “For the SFSR to be an asset to our communities, the training and equipment required for them to carry out their missions successfully comes at a cost. A humble appeal is made to the citizens of our country to support this initiative and to assist the SFSR in assisting others.”
For more information, email az@salaamfoundation.com or contact 072 122 8400.
