Disinfecting the Lope de Vega Cultural Centre in Puente de Vallecas (Madrid) where antigen tests were performed.
TRAINING
All military trackers have received
previous training before starting their
job. “We have been trained to deal with
an elderly person or a child, and above
all, they have insisted on legal issues,
on data protection”, says Corporal
Laso. In fact, when they phone the
contact person of an individual who has
tested positive, they can never disclose
the identity of the person who gave
them the contact. “All trackers sign a
confidentiality clause”, explains Osuna.
They take an online course, consisting
of five modules in which they are
trained in the basics of the disease for
effective contact tracing and providing
assistance to those affected. “They also
receive more in-depth talks on periods
of isolation and quarantine, on how to
differentiate what a close contact is or
what the infection periods are”, explains
Captain Nurse Osuna. This training is
completed by the respective regions to
unify procedures.
As well as being able to communicate
and having basic computer skills,
trackers must above all be assertive with
the people they call, most of whom are
worried, nervous and have doubts about
what to do once confirmed positive for
COVID-19.
The Armed Forces psychologists
have therefore worked really hard
with them, simulating the worst-case
scenarios they may have to face at the
other end of the line. Prepared for the
worst, they find that in most cases those
affected are very aware of the situation
and willing to collaborate to help halt this
pandemic as soon as possible.
Military members are trained to communicate
effectively with those affected
Elena Tarilonte
December 2020 Revista Española de Defensa 13
Luismi Ortiz/UME