COLE BAY--As part of Fire Prevention Week, Maritime School of the West Indies (MSWI) will have a booth in Philipsburg, in front of the Fire Station, to inform the private sector on Safety and Fire Prevention courses for businesses, on Saturday October 16, only.

The three-day Safety and Prevention Management Training (SPMT) course will start by the end of October, instructed by specialists from different fields, some of whom are working in St. Maarten with the school in the maritime department.

According to MSWI’s principal Veerle Rolus, the course will take place at the MSWI premises in Princess Port de Plaisance, though practical parts like building evacuation and elevator/stairs evacuation will be done in selected hotels.

The purpose of the course is to provide first aid, fire fighting and disaster training to management and staff of hotels, restaurants, bars, hospitals, schools, fuel stations, electricity and phone companies, supermarkets, shops and other businesses.

Rolus said several hotels and businesses had expressed interest in the SPMT course, indicating they would send at least one or two of their employees to participate.

The St. Maarten-based instructors include fire officers Saskia Schroten and Marco London, and a doctor as first aid instructor.

According to the school, middle managers normally set up and implement emergency or fire safety plans, and these plans differ by company and the company’s operation.

“We will go through the elementary steps on how to set up such a plan,” added Rolus. “Our school can also develop and provide a complete and approved plan for each hotel or business on request. But these emergency plans have to be implemented and trained with, preferably once a year.”