Uzbekistan Mission Underway

Clackamas, Oregon Area Firefighters Depart on an EMS Training mission to Tashkent

(31 May 2010 - GMR)  Three members from Global Mission Readiness are on their way to Tashkent, Uzbekistan for a two-week training mission under the authority of relief organization, Medical Teams International.  The crew of career firefighters and paramedics including Josh Gehrke, Greg Smith and Tim Barbknecht will be teaching first aid skills to regional firefighters and police officers.

This mission will be the second training session this year involving GMR volunteers to the former Soviet block territory.  The members hope to share their experience and training to their fellow firefighters abroad in what they consider a Brotherhood.  "We are incredibly fortunate to be able to help out our fellow firefighters," stated team member Greg Smith. "We consider firefighters, regardless of their affiliation, as part of our extended family."

The emergency workers in Uzbekistan have historically not had the same access to the latest training techniques and equipment as in Western culture.  This mission will help bridge the gap by providing the latest techniques in EMS. Despite the lack of the latest training and equipment, a great deal can be learned from the improvisational abilities and resourcefulness of Uzbekistan people. For Team Leader Josh Gehrke, it will be his second mission abroad to teach emergency response skills.  "We share a common bond by helping to save lives.  We hope that our fire family abroad will learn as much from us, as we anticipate learning from them," stated Gehrke. 

The mission is funded partially through an MTI subsidy and the remainder through the generous donations of GMR supporters.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this humanitarian mission possible.