New Volunteer Opportunity - CERT

I have been interested in Emergency Management and CERT for quite some time. I seem to manage to find the CERT training a few weeks AFTER the classes start and end up looking for other programs and then missing the classes for the year. Well this year I managed to find and register for the training BEFORE classes started so I am finally getting around to being trained as a CERT. Yay! If I could turn my passion for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Assessment in to a career I would but for now I am happy to be a volunteer with American Red Cross and now with Southwest Johnson County CERT.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures and road blockages may prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. This is where CERT comes in!

CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. Citizens are trained by professionals in Emergency Management, EMS, Fire and Law Enforcement to respond and assist in disasters.

CERT team members are often available at a scene of a disaster BEFORE emergency personnel can arrive. CERT teams provide many tasks such as first aid/CPR and other life saving services. CERTs may also assist emergency personnel (ems, fire and law enforcement) with tasks such as communication, fire suppression, traffic control, search & rescue as well as organize spontaneous volunteers to put them to use in the most effective way. CERT teams do not replace emergency personnel but rather take charge until emergency personnel arrive and then work with emergency personnel to provide services to those in need in time of a disaster. This allows trained emergency personnel to focus on more technical tasks CERT members are not trained to perform.

The mission of a CERT team is to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in any time of need.

Southwest Johnson County CERT is based out at Johnson County Fire District #1 in Gardner, KS. If you are interested in CERT training or would just like to learn more about their program visit them on facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/SouthwestJohnsonCountyCERT.

Here are some pictures from this weeks class (Week 2) which focused on Fire Suppression:

 

CERT training programs are generally from 7-10 weeks. Topics covered include: Disaster Preparedness, Fire Suppression, Medical Operations (First Aid, CPR, Triage), Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology (signs and symptoms that victims or CERT members are experiencing psychology trauma from the disaster) and Team Organization (how a CERT is organized, need for documentation, etc). The final week is generally a Disaster Simulation. It is also recommended that CERT members participate in local disaster drills when available.

Next week we jump in to emergency medical operations. I will try to post updates and pictures when possible. I am looking forward to this new adventure!