CERT - Weeks 3 & 4 - Emergency Medical Operations

Weeks 3 & 4 of the CERT training covered Emergency Medical Operations. CERTs role in a disaster is to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in any time of need. One of the tasks assigned to CERTs is to do triage (prior to EMS professionals arriving) to determine the medical needs of those affected in the disaster. CERTs learn to do a basic assessment to determine if an individual needs immediate medical assistance, can wait for delayed medical assistance (non-life threatening injuries), is not injured or in the worst case scenario, the individual is deceased. When possible CERTs will set up a triage area for each situation and segregate the injured individuals per category.

Here are some pics from class:

Chief Keller demonstrates how to do a head to toe examination to determine extent of injury and need for triage.

Here are pics of class trying on splints:












And in case anyone is wondering if I actually attend the classes, here I am hiding in the back. Not sure who is taking pictures but I need to do a better job of hiding from the camera! ;)



Next week we will be covering Light Search and Rescue. 

(Pictures above are from Southwest Johnson County CERT. Probably their PR person. Hope they don't mind that I borrowed them!)

To learn more about Southwest Johnson County CERT visit them on facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/SouthwestJohnsonCountyCERT