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Introduction
Following a major
disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be
able to meet the demand
for these services. Factors such as 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 911. 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.
If 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, familiarize
citizens about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate
services. Second, give the message about their responsibility for mitigation and
preparedness. Third, train them in necessary life saving skills with emphasis on
decision making, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest
number.
Background
The Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) 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.
The training
program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and helps citizens understand their
responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to
safely help themselves, their families and neighbors. The Cowlitz County
Department of Emergency Management recognizes the importance of preparing
citizens with an all-hazard approach to emergency preparedness. Any citizen
will benefit from the CERT course, you will be better prepared to respond to,
and cope with, the aftermath of a disaster.
Conclusion
CERT is about
readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good
for the greatest number. The program 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 themselves and spontaneous
volunteers to be effective.
The CERT course
is delivered in the community by a team of trained first responders. The
training generally con sists
of the following courses:
I.
Orientation: The CERT concept and
organization are discussed, as well as applicable laws governing volunteers in
the state of Washington.
II:
General Disaster Preparedness:
Addresses local hazards and actions to 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.
III:
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.
IV:
Disaster Medical Operations I:
Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding, and
shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.
V:
Disaster Medical Operations 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.
VI: Light
Search and Rescue: Participants
learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue
techniques, and most important, rescuer safety.
VII:
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.
VIII:
Course Review and Disaster Simulation:
Participants review their answers from a take
home examination. Finally, they practice the skills that they have learned
during the previous sessions in disaster activity.
During each
session participants are required to bring safety equipment (gloves, goggles,
mask) and disaster supplies (bandages, flashlight, dressings) 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.
CERT is a proud partner of Citizen Corps and
the effort to have everyone in America prepare, train, and volunteer.
For more information
on CERT training courses, please contact the Cowlitz County Department of
Emergency Management at (360) 577-3130 or DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us
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