In September 2018, Mac’s co-worker and friend, firefighter/medic Mike Konvicka of Hanover Fire & EMS voluntarily visited Belize to help Mac deliver hazardous materials (hazmat) operations training to firefighters from all over the country of Belize.
The objectives for this training were two-fold:
- To begin the process of training every active firefighter in the mitigation of hazmat incidents from an operational defensive stance
- To identify potential candidates that would later in the year travel to Henrico County, Virginia, in the United States, and participate in the Henrico division of fire hazardous-materials technician-level training.
Mike successfully engaged the Belizean firefighters in the training material, and they grasped the concepts well. While all worked hard and studied long hours to fully take advantage of Mike’s knowledge and generosity, firefighter Detrick Kingston was ultimately selected to come to the US to participate in that higher technician-level training the following month.
While Mike trained on hazmat operations, Mac used the opportunity to train the same firefighters in CPR and first aid.
At Belize Heroes, we don’t just send ’em equipment and let them figure it out. Instead, we train both in-country and bring select Belizean firefighters like Detrick to the US for additional training.
That way Detrick can bring his additional knowledge back to other firefighters and communities in Belize, instead of the knowledge leaving on a plane with the volunteer.