Citizens Emergency Response Team
By Laurie Searle | Sep 16, 2008
Residents from Chattahoochee Hills volunteered for local community preparedness training to become a certified Citizens Emergency Response Team.
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Twelve residents signed-up for the three-day CERT
training, offered over three weekends: Sept 6,13,20, 2008.
This is the second class offered in Chattahoochee Hills. Last year a class was offered at Providence Baptist Church Rico. Pictured left to right are: |
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| The training began with an introduction to disaster
preparedness and a review of recent disasters and emergencies.
As emergency volunteers, students are taught that they must first take care of themselves and their property during a disaster, so they will be mentally prepared to focus on helping others. In this first block of training, held at the City's fire station, students learn about home and workplace preparedness, community preparedness, and protection for disaster workers. |
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After the classroom session on fire safety, where
students learned about the chemistry of fire and how to reduce fire
hazards, size up a fire, and effectively use a fire extinguisher, they
got some hands-on practice.
Shown in this photo, Sara Ann Alford takes the lead while husband Paul guides her toward the fire. Volunteers are instructed to always work in pairs, and to keep in constant communication with their partners. When using an extinguisher, they remember the acronym PASS -- Pull the pin, Aim low to the fire, Squeeze the trigger, and Sweep with the nozzle. |
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| With the fire safely extinguished, Sara Ann and Paul
received feedback from instructor Chris Hollis. Notice that Paul's hand
is still on Sara Ann's shoulder. This constant contact serves as an
"extra pair of eyes" as even with small fires, low visibility presents a
challenge.
All of the students had the opportunity to practice their new skills and to try out their safety equipment provide through the course. Each student received a green backpack with a green hard hat, safety vests, goggles, gloves, glow stick, and other supplies. They were also given an extensive list of suggested supplies to purchase in the future. |
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The CERT students found a fan in a chocolate lab (named
Lucky?).
This stray pooch is mild mannered, doesn't seem to mind loud sounds, such as a fire alarm, and would be perfectly content to hang out in your garage or back yard. If you would like a really nice pet, please contact the City's fire department. Note: CERT hat and vest not included.
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| In the second day of training, held at the Providence
Baptist Church Fellowship Building, students learned disaster medical
operations.
They learned the functions of disaster medical teams including how to set up a triage, establish treatment areas, conduct head-to-toe assessments, and superficially treat a variety of conditions. Shown in this photo, instructors Ron Johnson and Robert Jackson illustrate with student Max Arnold how to use the "two-person carry." |
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Using the "two-person carry" can be especially effective for women volunteers. In this photo, Erica Powell and Nan McGuffy try their hand at lifting and carrying Laurie Searle. The instructors also demonstrated other techniques for moving an injured person such as the chair carry, blanket drag, and several other options. At the final session scheduled for Sept. 20, students will apply their knowledge during more hands-on exercises. |
| On the last day of training, the CERT trainees
participated in a disaster simulation. They quickly selected a leader
than divided into three groups: fire control, search and rescue, and
triage.
The fire control group quickly extinguished a small fire then joined the search and rescue group to help them retrieve injured children from a simulated daycare. The triage group assessed the injuries, treated those that they could, and recorded information for the leader. When the fire truck arrived, the leader updated the fire chief. |
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