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 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,
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. 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.
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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.
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. This individual
will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath
of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement
its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited
and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that,
in essence, will be auxiliary responders. 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.
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Starting
We
recommend a number of steps to start a CERT:
Identify the program goals that CERT will meet and the resources
available to conduct the program in your area.
Gain
approval from appointed and elected officials to use CERT as a
means to prepare citizens to care for themselves during a disaster
when services may not be adequate. This is an excellent opportunity
for the government to be proactive in working with its constituency.
Identify and recruit potential participants. Naturals for CERT
are community groups, business and industry workers, and local
government workers.
Train CERT instructor cadre
Conduct CERT sessions.
Conduct refresher training and exercises with CERTs.
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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 is usually delivered in 2 1/2
hour sessions, one evening a week over a 7 week period. 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.
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: Participants
review their answers from a take home examination. Finally, they
practice the skills that they have learned during the previous
six 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
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Maintaining
Involvement
When
participants have completed this training, it is important to keep
them involved and practiced in their skills. Trainers should offer
periodic refresher sessions to reinforce the basic training. CERT
teams can sponsor events such as drills, picnics, neighborhood clean
up, and disaster education fairs which will keep them involved and
trained.
CERT
members should receive recognition for completing their training.
Communities may issue ID cards, vests, and helmets to graduates.
First
responders need to be educated about the CERT and their value to
the community. Using CERT as a component of the response system
when there are exercises for potential disasters can reinforce this
idea.
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Resources
FEMA
supports CERT by conducting or sponsoring TTT's for members of the
fire, medical, and emergency management community. The objectives
of the TTT are to prepare attendees to promote this training in
their community, conduct TTT's at their location, conduct training
sessions for neighborhood, business and industry, and government
groups, and organize teams with which first responders can interface
following a major disaster.
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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 themselves and spontaneous volunteers
to be effective.
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