What is "Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)?



Introduction
 

Following any major disaster, first responders who provide fire, medical, and emergency  services, will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as the number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through the current 9-1-1 calling system. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.

 

One also expects that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following the Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.

 

We can predict that emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster.  Especially if there is no warning as in an earthquake, and people will spontaneously volunteer. What can government do to prepare citizens for this eventuality?

 

First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, give the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness, and taking personal responsibility. Third, train them in needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing “the greatest good for the greatest number”. Fourth, organize teams so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

Background
 

The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees. There are numerous CERT members throughout the State of California that have also been used in Floods, train wrecks, fires and other functions in order to assist emergency responders.

 

The training program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards.

 

The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. These individuals will be better prepared to respond to and cope with, the aftermath of a disaster. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.


Pine Mountain Club CERT
 

The Emergency preparedness (EP)  Committee in PMC, has been storing supplies in 3 separate trailers in order to strategically have these supplies available in an Emergency. The EP Committee was able to go a step further in their efforts to assist their community. When Chief Randy Coleman joined the EP Committee in 2004, his 30 years of Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services background, and experience in Emergency Response Management, preparation and recovery, was implemented and also expanded the communities level of confidence.

In order for the community to utilize the supplies stored, we had to become trained in First Aid and CPR.  The next step was to start a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Randy organized the instruction and implementation of the current CERT in 2008. There are 33 personnel in the community, both PMC homeowners, and employers, that completed their course and are ready to respond.

The PMC CERT meets the second Saturday of each month, from 10:00-12:00 in the Condor Room in PMC. There are both classroom and field training scheduled. The team is required to maintain proficiency in skills and knowledge. A minimum of 8 hours on going training is required annually, along with 2 disaster drills.

 

How does PMC CERT get activated?

 

The PMC CERT is activated through the General Manager (GM) of PMC. The GM collects emergency data, contacts the Coordinator, who in turn utilizes a Phone Bank to contact the other CERT members. In the case of no phone or cell availability, the Team has the ability and training to respond directly to pre-designated locations for initiation of the Team.

 

How can I help or assist the CERT in PMC?

 

The Team is voluntary and they are not paid.  The supplies in the trailers are provided through an annual budget from the Emergency Preparedness Committee (currently $2,000.00 annually). The budget covers emergency supplies and water for the trailers and emergency packs that each CERT member carry.  Supplies require rotation and do expire from time to time. There are supplies, such as first Aid and medical supplies, donations, tools and equipment needed.  We are currently trying to establish some type of electronic communications for emergency use of our Team. If you would like to make a donation to PMC CERT, contact the PMC CERT Coordinator.



 

 

 

 

Delivery
 

The CERT course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders who have the requisite knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. It is suggested that the instructors complete a CERT Train-the-Trainer (TTT) conducted by their State Training Office for Emergency Management or the Emergency Management Institute in order to learn the training techniques that are used successfully by the LAFD.

 

The CERT training for community groups consist of a minimum of 24 hours training, both classroom and field exercises. The training consists of the following:

 

Session I, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in their community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during, and after a disaster. As the session progresses, the instructor begins to explore an expanded response role for civilians in that they should begin to consider themselves disaster workers. Since they will want to help their family members and neighbors, this training can help them operate in a safe and appropriate manner. The CERT concept and organization are discussed as well as applicable laws governing volunteers in that jurisdiction.

 

Session II, DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION: Briefly covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards, and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, sizing up the situation, controlling utilities, and extinguishing a small fire.

 

Session III, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding, and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.

 

Session IV, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART II: Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area, performing basic first aid, and practicing in a safe and sanitary manner.

 

Session V, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS: Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important, rescuer safety. Students actually conduct rescue of trapped victims under heavy objects, utilizing tools and teamwork.

 

Session VI, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM ORGANIZATION: Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker. It addresses CERT organization and management principles and the need for documentation.

 

Session VII, COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION: Finally, they practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in disaster activity. They’re required to pass a written and manipulative exam.

 

During each session participants are required to bring safety equipment (gloves, goggles, mask) and disaster supplies (bandages, flashlight, dressings, etc.), which will be used during the session. By doing this for each session, participants are building a disaster response kit of items that they will need during a disaster.






Maintaining Involvement
 

When participants have completed this training, it is important to keep them involved and practiced in their skills. Trainers offer periodic refresher sessions to reinforce the basic training, along with monthly on-going training. CERT teams can sponsor events such as drills, picnics, neighborhood clean up, and disaster education fairs which will keep them involved and trained.

 

Conclusion
 

CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing “the greatest good for the greatest number”. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize a team in order to assist emergency responders.

For more information, or to contact the PMC CERT Coordinator, click on the link above called “Contact Coordinator”.

 

A list of PMC CERT members will be posted in the near future!