The Town Hall of Arona, through the Department of Security, is organising the first edition of the Security and Emergency Week, in collaboration with the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Tenerife. This event will take place from 10th to 13th September at the Auditorio Infanta Leonor de Los Cristianos and the Cultural Centre of Los Cristianos-Plaza del Pescador, featuring activities aimed at both industry professionals and the general public.
The presentation of these sessions occurred in the Noble Hall of the Cabildo of Tenerife with contributions from the Deputy Counsellor of Emergencies and Water of the Government of the Canary Islands, Marcos Lorenzo; the Counsellor for Natural Environment, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez; the Mayor of Arona, Fátima Lemes Reverón; the Councillor for Security of the Town Hall of Arona, Alexis Gómez; and the Insular Director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín.
For four days, Arona will become a key meeting point for professionals and the community regarding emergency management, prevention, and safety. Through an intensive agenda of presentations, specialised training, round tables, demonstrations, and workshops, the event aims to bring the world of safety and emergencies closer to society, strengthen professional training, and promote a culture of prevention.
Training for Professionals: Crisis, Leadership, and Real Experiences
On 10th and 11th September, the Auditorio Infanta Leonor will host exclusive training sessions for professionals from the Security Forces, emergency services, and specialised psychologists. This reserved space will focus on analysing and exchanging experiences among those on the front lines during critical situations, such as natural disasters or human crisis interventions.
The inaugural session will coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, featuring a talk by Pedro Martín Barrajón, a psychologist and expert in crisis intervention and suicide prevention, who will discuss this topic from the perspective of the professionals who face these realities. Also participating will be Juan Manuel García “Pincho”, a trainer in crisis communication and operational leadership, who will provide tools for managing communication in high-pressure situations.
The session on 11th September will focus on recent experiences during the DANA in Valencia in 2024. Javier Lozano, a former Air Force captain, and José Miguel Basset Blesa, the chief duty officer of Firefighters specialised in industrial chemistry, will share their experiences and insights on aerial and ground interventions in extreme phenomena.
The afternoon will conclude with a highly relevant round table titled “Is Tenerife a Safe Island? Are We Prepared for a Catastrophe?”, featuring prominent experts in security and civil protection. The closing of these sessions will take place at 20:15 on the same day.
For further information on how to attend, please contact [email protected].
The Security and Emergency Fair: Open to All Citizens
On 12th and 13th September, the Security and Emergency Week will open to the public with an informational fair at the Plaza del Pescador, in front of the Cultural Centre of Los Cristianos. The fair will feature vehicles, technical equipment, live demonstrations, and activities aimed at increasing awareness of these essential services and highlighting the importance of the professionals who ensure everyone’s safety. Entry will be free of charge.
On 12th September, the fair will host the Tenerife Fire Consortium and the Forest Brigades of the Cabildo of Tenerife (BRIFOR), who will conduct practical demonstrations and showcase their intervention units.
On 13th September, attendees will include Red Cross of Spain, the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC), the Army, Civil Protection of Arona, along with the Association for the Development of Emergency Actions (ADAE), the Local Police of Arona, the National Police Corps (CNP) — including the Prevention and Reaction Unit (UPR), the Citizen Participation Unit, and the Scientific Police — the Civil Guard (GC) and the General Police Corps of the Canary Islands (CGPC).
Journalism and Prevention: A Workshop for Media Professionals
Additionally, the programme includes a specific training session for journalists. On Thursday, 12th September, at the headquarters of the Association of Journalists of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a workshop titled “From Silence to Hope: The Indispensable Role of the Media in Suicide Prevention” will be conducted by Yaiza Perera, section head at the newspaper El Mundo.
This session, aimed at communication professionals, will provide tools and reflections on how to ethically and responsibly handle information related to suicide. The workshop will run from 17:00 to 19:00, with free registration required.
