CERT training redo

I recently completed CERT training through City of Shawnee, KS. I previously attended training through SW Johnson County CERT but due to an illness missed the final exercise. The next time the final exercise rolled around for SW Johnson County CERT I was dealing with a back injury and couldn't participate. So when Shawnee offered their training this January I was able to finally complete the final exercise and graduate. I can now join a CERT team and be able to respond to area disasters. This is something I am doing to complement my Red Cross training. 

What is CERT? It stands for  Community Emergency Response Team. The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. 

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can give critical support to their family, loved ones, neighbors or associates in their immediate area until help arrives. When help does arrive, CERTs provide useful information to first responders and support their efforts, as directed, at the disaster site. CERT members can also assist with non-emergency projects that improve the safety of the community. CERTs have been used to distribute and/or install smoke alarms, replace smoke alarm batteries in the home of elderly, distribute disaster education material, provide services at special events, such as parades, sporting events, concerts and more.

About CERT Training

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training teaches disaster preparedness, ICS principles and disaster response skills. CERT-trained individuals have a higher awareness, greater resiliency in the wake of a disaster and the ability to supplement and complement professional responders. This training requires 24 hours (minimum) and grants a FEMA-recognized certification.

The CERT Curriculum

• DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: This gives an overview of disasters with a special look at how they'll affect Shawnee and the surrounding area. The Shawnee CERT training program gives special attention on how to prepare before a disaster strikes, including preparedness and hazard mitigation.

• FIRE SAFETY: Instructions begins with the basics of fire chemistry and students learn about the hazards they already have in their home and workplace. This includes instruction on operating fire extinguishers and students hone their technique in a live-fire exercise.

• DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS I: Students learn to identify life-threatening conditions in a technique known as "triage." Additionally, they will be trained to immediately treat victims for the three deadliest killers in mass-casualty incidents.

• DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS II: This extends the medical view into public health considerations, as well as giving hands-on training in establishing treatment areas, conducting head-to-toe Assessments and wound care for types of injuries typically seen in disasters.

• LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE: We teach the fundamentals of light urban search and rescue, including size-up, entry, search patterns, rescuer safety and victim extrication.

• CERT ORGANIZATION: When disaster strikes, sometimes getting started is the most difficult step. CERT organization will teach the decision-making skills to organize, as well as a NIMS-compliant vocabulary to fit into larger Emergency Response organizations.

• DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY: The mind is the most important tool – as well as the most delicate. This unit teaches individual and team well-being, from what to expect going into a disaster to working with survivors' trauma and post-traumatic stress.

• TERRORISM AWARENESS: Terrorism is a criminal act and its prevalence is only growing. CERT class introduces the concepts, motivations and tools common among terrorists to create a heightened state of awareness, reducing the possibility that CERT graduates will be the next terrorism statistic.

In 2014, the Shawnee Emergency Management Office established a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Currently, there are 35 members of Shawnee's CERT. The January class is the 3rd class to receive the training and graduate to become CERT team members. 24 people completed the training and are now eligible to join Shawnee's CERT team which could bring the total number of team members to 59. 

The Shawnee CERT training and training updates are conducted locally at the Shawnee Fire Department and/or Police Justice Center. Both the facilities are made available to volunteers to meet their training needs.

To sign-up for CERT Training in Shawnee, KS contact the City's Emergency Management Coordinator, Terry Kegin, at 913-742-6139 or e-mail him at tkegin@cityofshawnee.org. 

Below are pictures from the final exercise completed on January 23, 2016 for Shawnee's CERT program. The exercise was designed to mimic what CERT responders might need to do in a disaster such as search and rescue, triage, medical transport, fire extinguish (small fires only that can be extinguished using the appropriate fire extinguisher), etc:

  

And here's the graduating class picture from City of Shawnee CERT January 23, 2016:

Came across this article today and wanted to share...  Original article is here.

23 Messages for Anyone Considering Suicide, From People Who’ve Been There

By Sarah Schuster

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in America in 2014. This means someone in the U.S. died by suicide every 12.3 minutes that year. But with early intervention, support and treatment, suicide is preventable. If we help those at risk — and make help more accessible for those who need it — we can live in a world where these numbers shrink.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or just needs someone to talk to, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. To learn more about the warning signs of suicide, head here.

For now, hear these messages from members of our Mighty community who’ve been there. We hope their words give you the push to get the help you need and deserve.

Here’s what they want to tell anyone who’s in a dark place:

1. “Although it’s cliché and you may not believe it right now, it really does get better. I promise you won’t regret sticking through it.” — Kristy Hindman-Cook

2. “You deserve to give yourself one more try. You deserve to live. You deserve to be.” — Bambi Sears

3. “Open up, let someone in so they can find a way to help you through your tough times. No one deserves to go through life alone.” — Katherine J Palmer

4. “People have different reasons for suicidal thoughts and depression, so there’s no easy solution. All I can say is that tomorrow is a chance to start over. You just have to make it to tomorrow.” — Kelley Robinson

5. “Please reach out. I don’t care how dumb or weak you think you are or sound. Get the help you deserve.” — Morgan Stacy

6. “[Suicide] is not a solution. It doesn’t fix anything.” — April Dominguez

7. “[If you live in the United States], call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — it’s in my speed dial. In my experience, the counselors are very caring and helpful. They’ve talked me out of a crisis many times.” — Debbie Kasuba Hendrix

8. “This world needs you.” — Alicia Nelsen

9. “You are worth it. Even when it’s dark and deep and cold. You are important. Even when you think your light is too dim, someone sees it. And you. You don’t have to go through this alone. I promise.” — Kelly Jo

10. “Those dark thoughts make your days feel like years and your weeks feel like centuries. But it doesn’t have to always be that way. You can tell someone. You can get help.” — Arielle Smith

11. “Depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses need to be treated. I know the darkness seems an eternity and hope is so far gone, but when you ask for help and receive it, life will turn around. I am a Survivor, and you are too.” — Renee Sheridan Birchall

12. “Don’t be ashamed of your suicidal thoughts. They don’t make you a bad person or make you weak. They are just a symptom of a mental disease, just like chest pain is a symptom of heart disease. When we experience symptoms, it’s time to seek help, regardless of the disease. Chest pains don’t make a heart patient weak or bad, and neither do any of your thoughts.” — Jennifer Sladden

13. “The people in your life are not better off without you.” — Cary Rice Schwent 

14. “Just make it through that hour — half-hour, 15 minutes, one minute. It’s so hard, but break it down to the best of your abilities to make it through.” —  Katherine Cavaliere

15. “Getting help is easier than the alternative.” — Suzy Ellis

16. “It’s a lie. Your mind lies like an ancient serpent. You are beautiful and worthy and the loss of you would devastate and cripple the hearts of those who love you. Don’t suffer in silence; the liar is counting on you to isolate. Speak up and let people help you. You have purpose on this Earth. Please don’t leave.” — Shell Rioux Hurrell

17. “Nobody will understand unless you tell people your story. And if that story saves one more life, then choosing to stay will not have been in vain.” — Douglas Honeywill 

18. “Honestly…I don’t know. But what I’ve found out is that it’s OK to not know. Going slow is better than quitting.” — LeChondra Sapp

19. “There’s a difference between wanting to kill yourself and wanting to kill the part of you that wants you to kill yourself. It’s still hard, but now that I know there’s a difference, I can get much better help when I’m struggling.” — Alison Taylor

20. “I don’t know your story, your pain, your bone-deep tiredness, your struggle or your reasons. But I would listen to them all. We’re out here, thousands of us, waiting on helplines, aching for the chance to hold out our hand, hold yours as long as you need it, until you can rest a little, lean a little and believe in possibility of tomorrow.” — Charlene Dewbre

21. “What you’re feeling now is real. It’s not true, but it feels true. Call someone trained to ground you in reality and help you. Call.” — Joel-Sara Taylor

22. “Someday the light will come and it will be more beautiful because you are a survivor.” — Ashley Roenfeldt 

23. “It’s just a thought. Don’t listen.” — Louise Weis

If you or someone you know needs help, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.

The Crisis Text Line is looking for volunteers! If you’re interesting in becoming a Crisis Counselor, you can learn more information here.

*Answers have been edited and shortened. 

MLK Day of Service is January 18th

On January 18th, many people in the U.S. have a day off work to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rather than take a "day off", however, many are choosing to take a "day on". They’ll spend MLK Day in service to their neighbors and their communities. Will you join them by volunteering on MLK Day?

Here is a link to searchable volunteer opportunities:

www.volunteermatch.org

Volunteering is a blessing. Whether it's National Day of Service or some other day, I hope you explore the many volunteer opportunities out there!