Community Emergency Response Team – Part Three
September 20, 2008
In the last article we explained how CERT may be used to respond to a disaster (in this case a tornado). In this article we will explain how those unaffected by the disaster may be able to assist the CERT response and what each family should try to keep as an emergency supplies kit.
One of the most important things those unaffected need to keep in mind is safety and you must resist the urge to rush into a disaster scene without a plan. As the CERT program continues to expand more of the Barrow county residential areas will have teams available who will organize a neighborhood response. For those who would like to help their neighbors in a disaster the best way is to join the CERT program.. The Barrow CERT program is looking to have each subdivision sponsor its own team these resources would then be an available to deploy in a major disaster situation.
As explained in part two of this series CERT will establish two medical treatment areas. One treatment area will be set up for victims with non-life threatening injuries. Another treatment area will be set up for those who have potentially life threatening injuries. The treatment areas will be located where emergency response vehicles can access the site as they become available. The CERT team will keep the county advised regarding the medical condition of victims and will assist the county emergency responders as needed to transport victims to medical facilities. In addition, a command post will be established where the Incident Commander coordinates all CERT operations. Those interested in aiding CERT members, should report to the CERT command post. When either CERT or professional responders are on the scene, do not enter the disaster area without approval from the Incident Commander. In all cases it is essential that you do not interfere with CERT operations no differently than you would with county professional emergency responders. Understand that they are doing everything possible.
Disaster Supply Kit: (72 Hour Kit) Refer to the following website for details on assembling a disaster supply kit. http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/assemble_disaster_supplies_kit.shtm
The following is not intended to be a comprehensive list. You should customize your kit based on your family requirements. Be sure to replace food or water items that have exceeded their expiration dates.
One of the most important things those unaffected need to keep in mind is safety and you must resist the urge to rush into a disaster scene without a plan. As the CERT program continues to expand more of the Barrow county residential areas will have teams available who will organize a neighborhood response. For those who would like to help their neighbors in a disaster the best way is to join the CERT program.. The Barrow CERT program is looking to have each subdivision sponsor its own team these resources would then be an available to deploy in a major disaster situation.
As explained in part two of this series CERT will establish two medical treatment areas. One treatment area will be set up for victims with non-life threatening injuries. Another treatment area will be set up for those who have potentially life threatening injuries. The treatment areas will be located where emergency response vehicles can access the site as they become available. The CERT team will keep the county advised regarding the medical condition of victims and will assist the county emergency responders as needed to transport victims to medical facilities. In addition, a command post will be established where the Incident Commander coordinates all CERT operations. Those interested in aiding CERT members, should report to the CERT command post. When either CERT or professional responders are on the scene, do not enter the disaster area without approval from the Incident Commander. In all cases it is essential that you do not interfere with CERT operations no differently than you would with county professional emergency responders. Understand that they are doing everything possible.
Disaster Supply Kit: (72 Hour Kit) Refer to the following website for details on assembling a disaster supply kit. http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/assemble_disaster_supplies_kit.shtm
The following is not intended to be a comprehensive list. You should customize your kit based on your family requirements. Be sure to replace food or water items that have exceeded their expiration dates.
- Water: – While 3 gallons per person (1.5 gal. for drinking and 1.5 gal. for food preparation/sanitation is a recommended minimum for potable water, we suggest that you keep an additional 5 – 10 gallons of water for flushing toilets, bathing, etc. This can be water from your garden hose.
Food: – 72 hour supply for each person of nonperishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking with little or no water. If you must heat food pack a can of Sterno.- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
- Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)
- Staples, sugar, salt, pepper
- High energy foods, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix.
- Food for infants, elderly persons, or persons on special diets.
- Comfort/stress foods: cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags
Kitchen Items:- Manual can opener
- Mess kits or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- All purpose knife
- Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water
- Aluminum foil
- Re-sealable plastic bags
- Matches or lighter
First Aid Kit: We recommend that you purchase a first aid kit. Many different types are available online, at drug stores, and home improvement stores. The size you purchase is dependent on your family size. We recommend a kit for your home and for your car.
Community Emergency Response Team – Part Two
September 20, 2008
What happens if some disaster, such as a tornado, hits Barrow County? What is the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trained to do? The answers will depend on the extent of the disaster and how that affects the professional responders. For the purpose of this article, our examples will be limited to subdivisions or other residential areas.
The CERT members, who may be residents of an area hit by a tornado, are expected to initially respond to their immediate family and ensure their safety. Once this is done, CERT members will rally to a pre-designated site within their residential area. The purpose of this is to consolidate information regarding the extent of the damage, where potential victims are located, and the potential for hazards related to gas, electrical and water utilities.
The team also contacts Barrow County Emergency Services in order to determine their status in responding to the scene. While waiting for professional first responders to arrive, CERT will organize search and rescue teams. These teams will survey the disaster scene, shut off utilities at damaged homes where appropriate, locate victims, provide immediate triage, and organize the uninjured residents to assist in transporting victims that can be moved to medical treatment sites that will be established. If it is determined that professional responders are committed to other locations within the county affected by the disaster, the team will request that the county deploy other CERTs from within the county to assist in the recovery. The team will establish two medical areas: one for those victims with non-life threatening injuries and one for those with more severe injuries that either are or could become life threatening. If there are victims who are in need of immediate medical attention, CERT will provide medical treatment, to the extent of their training, and will also communicate to emergency services the need to transport the most seriously injured. This process will continue until all the injured have been transported to medical facilities. As professional emergency response personnel arrive at the disaster scene, CERT will support these responders to the extent requested.
During CERT response and recovery operations, there will be an emphasis on rescuer safety. A rescuer who becomes a victim cannot help anyone; this is one of the reasons that the utilities are shut down where appropriate. It not only mitigates further damage to homes, but also reduces the threat of injury to rescuers. The safety of the rescuer will also dictate whether some homes can be safely entered and searched. Heavily damaged homes are inherently unstable and, therefore, will be considered unsafe and will only be entered once professional support has ensured the structure’s stability. Moderately damaged homes will be evaluated on a case-by- case basis to determine whether entry is safe. Lightly damaged homes will be searched for possible victims. In this respect, having someone in the neighborhood with information relative to the number of people residing in the home could become vital. It is recommended that every home prepare for a possible disaster by setting up a kit of supplies that will support the family with food and water for 72 hours.
What you can do to help and the contents of a disaster kit will be the subject of our next article.
The CERT members, who may be residents of an area hit by a tornado, are expected to initially respond to their immediate family and ensure their safety. Once this is done, CERT members will rally to a pre-designated site within their residential area. The purpose of this is to consolidate information regarding the extent of the damage, where potential victims are located, and the potential for hazards related to gas, electrical and water utilities.
The team also contacts Barrow County Emergency Services in order to determine their status in responding to the scene. While waiting for professional first responders to arrive, CERT will organize search and rescue teams. These teams will survey the disaster scene, shut off utilities at damaged homes where appropriate, locate victims, provide immediate triage, and organize the uninjured residents to assist in transporting victims that can be moved to medical treatment sites that will be established. If it is determined that professional responders are committed to other locations within the county affected by the disaster, the team will request that the county deploy other CERTs from within the county to assist in the recovery. The team will establish two medical areas: one for those victims with non-life threatening injuries and one for those with more severe injuries that either are or could become life threatening. If there are victims who are in need of immediate medical attention, CERT will provide medical treatment, to the extent of their training, and will also communicate to emergency services the need to transport the most seriously injured. This process will continue until all the injured have been transported to medical facilities. As professional emergency response personnel arrive at the disaster scene, CERT will support these responders to the extent requested.
During CERT response and recovery operations, there will be an emphasis on rescuer safety. A rescuer who becomes a victim cannot help anyone; this is one of the reasons that the utilities are shut down where appropriate. It not only mitigates further damage to homes, but also reduces the threat of injury to rescuers. The safety of the rescuer will also dictate whether some homes can be safely entered and searched. Heavily damaged homes are inherently unstable and, therefore, will be considered unsafe and will only be entered once professional support has ensured the structure’s stability. Moderately damaged homes will be evaluated on a case-by- case basis to determine whether entry is safe. Lightly damaged homes will be searched for possible victims. In this respect, having someone in the neighborhood with information relative to the number of people residing in the home could become vital. It is recommended that every home prepare for a possible disaster by setting up a kit of supplies that will support the family with food and water for 72 hours.
What you can do to help and the contents of a disaster kit will be the subject of our next article.
Community Emergency Response Team – Part One
September 20, 2008
The Barrow Community Emergency Response Team currently consists of seventeen volunteers who have completed certification training through the Barrow County Fire and Emergency Services Dept. An additional 13 are currently taking the certification course.
Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the demand. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages can 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.
Most often 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 of the volunteers 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.
This is the first of a series of articles that will be published. The purpose will be to inform our citizens as to what Barrow County CERT program is doing and what you can do to prepare for a potential emergency.
Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the demand. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages can 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.
Most often 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 of the volunteers 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.
This is the first of a series of articles that will be published. The purpose will be to inform our citizens as to what Barrow County CERT program is doing and what you can do to prepare for a potential emergency.