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CERT Responder Magazine is dedicated to providing CERT and first responders with information and tools to assist communities in times of crisis, as well as offering a platform for responders to share their stories.
PUBLISHERS: Bob Abrams, Fran Sherman Chris Wahoski
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Ed Beirne, Jen Humphrey, Joel Landis, Emily Rosenblum, SARBC, Linda Spall, Chris Wahoski
EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Fran Sherman
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING: Bob Abrams
OFFICE MANAGER: Chris Wahoski
We hope you are all enjoying your summer.
We at CERT Responder Magazine just want to let you know how much we appreciate your commitment to keeping your communities safe in the event of a disaster. Your commitment to serving others is admirable. As first responders, we have dedicated our lives to helping others.
Our commitment is to keep you informed on new trends, ideas, and training to assist with your efforts in helping others. We want people that aren’t involved with CERT teams and their mission to understand what CERT does in disasters. We don’t want them to criticize and complain about someone or something, but rather, step up with the CERT teams to come up with solutions and resolutions to problems that will happen at some point. You and your neighbors may or may not have the training, but you will still be involved in the aftermath of the disaster. Please help each other every day to succeed.
It is our goal to make the world understand what CERT is and what its committed members provide. We want to share those stories and help others develop CERT teams around the globe.
When people ask what is CERT, we respond by saying “These are your communities and neighbors who train to keep you and your families safe after a disaster. Even when the first responders are overwhelmed, we can help. Please consider joining your local team.”
Thank you, and please keep up the great work and dedication.
We Stand with You!
Cert Responder Magazine Team
Immediately establish a CERT presence on the disaster scene with ProPac’s Quick Shelter canopy.
Like all ProPac CERT equipment, our CERT Quick Shelter canopy delivers a lot for your money. It measures 10 ft. W x 10 ft. L and you can adjust the height clearance to 7 ft. The canopy is made of commercial grade, UV protected 500 Denier nylon that is a fire rated top over a heavy duty powder coated aluminum frame that’s corrosion and scratch resistant.
The ProPac Quick Shelter meets both the CPAI-84 and ULC-S-109 fire codes. ProPac’s Quick Shelter comes with accessories & graphics. A heavy duty carry bag with wheels and an extra strong staking kit are included. We finished it off with bold, bright CERT identification graphics on 2 sides, top and eaves. Art setup and production are included. Our disaster response customers agree the ProPac Quick Shelter has proven to be durable, high quality and easy to set up.
The ProPac Quick Shelter is high quality from the ground up, not a flimsy promotional piece that will bend at the first sign of a breeze. Plus, it’s fast and easy to put up. No tools are required.
BLACK WIDOW SPIDER
(Latrodectus)- Glossy black color and bright red-orange hourglass marking on the abdomen; various species throughout the U.S.
The prevalence of sexual cannibalism, a behavior in which the female eats the male after mating, has inspired the name “widow spiders”
Bites are often overlooked because the site becomes numb right away. Localized intense pain sometimes follows the bite, along with fever, chills, & muscle spasms. Only female bites are dangerous to humans because of their large venom glands. It is thought to be 15 times more potent than a rattlesnake. More than 2000 people report bites yearly, yet deaths are rare.
rotoxin that affects the nerve tissues causing dizziness, sweating, nausea, and rashes. Some develop difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, or chest pain within 24 hours, as well as muscle cramps. These symptoms usually resolve in 48 hours. Staph commonly develops in the wound.
TREATMENT: Transport to ER, treat muscle spasms with ICE packs to bite site, and the emergency department will give medications to calm down the spasms.
(Loxosceles reclusa) – has a necrotic venom; dull brown in color; have a dark, violin shaped mark on the back, but this is not diagnostic because there are other similar markings on other spiders such as the cellar spider or the pirate spider. Brown Recluses only live about 1-2 years.
Brown recluses live in dark areas, corners of old unused buildings, under rocks, and in woodpiles. They can be found in cooler areas such as closets, drawers, cellars, boots, and clothing.
In contrast to the black widow, the bite is not neurotoxic, but cytotoxic. That is, it causes severe local tissue damage to die, and hemolytic, which causes it can destroy red blood cells.
There is no pain at first, but within hours, the bite site becomes painful and swollen, with pale mottled skin, cyanotic center, and possibly small blister. Over the next several days, a scab of the dead skin, fat, and debris forms, and digs down into the skin forming a large ulcer that may not heal without antibiotics and cleansing of the wound.
TREATMENT:
Clean with soap and water, apply over-the-counter antibiotic and over-the-counter pain medication while watching for more symptoms to appear. If fever and chills present, it might lead to sepsis and a global infection, which requires medical attention.
Most poisonous snakes have a pupil that resembles a cat’s; an oblong shape with peaked ends, like a slit in the center of the eye.
SNAKES:
Call 911 if the person is unresponsive, not breathing, or you know the snake is venomous.
1. Note the snake’s appearance: How to tell a venomous snake from a non-venomous snake?
Most poisonous snakes have a pupil that resembles a cat’s; an oblong shape with peaked ends, like a slit in the center of the eye. Non-venomous snakes usually have round pupils. The coral snake is the exception, which is a very venomous snake in the United States, and has round pupils.
2. Protect the patient
• Remove from striking distance
• Keep calm and at rest
• Cover wound with loose bandage
• Remove jewelry
• Remove shoes if the leg or foot is swollen
DO NOT:
• Cut the bite wound
• Suck out the venom
• Apply tourniquet, ice or water
• Give the person alcohol, caffeinated drinks or medications
3. Contact healthcare provider, seek medical attention CERT
Twister. The mere word strikes fear into the hearts of those who have experienced the horror and devastation of this maelstrom of destruction. According to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration),from 19912010 the average number of tornadoes that hit the US was 1,253, with resulting deaths of about 60-80 per year. On April 27, 2011, a superstorm of epic proportions reigned terror in 21 states from Texas to New York. For 3 ½ days, 349 tornadoes touched down, resulting in the death of 348 people, even though sirens and proper warnings were activated. The state of Alabama, part of Dixie Alley, was the hardest hit with 238 fatalities. The book What Stands In A Storm, written by Kim Cross, is a riveting account of the events that occurred and the many lives changed.
What caught me at “Hello” was reading the Author’s Note which appeared after the Table of Contents. Her first three paragraphs explained the records broken by the storms. She follows with her proof of story, telling us that by meticulous research, using interviews, transcriptions, and the social media that took place during the time, she weaved truthful and poignant moments. Even using actual text conversations which were from victim’s phones and shared by the families, she carefully masters and replicates them exactly, with the original spelling and grammar. By reading those two simple pages, I knew I wouldn’t or couldn’t put the book down.
Kim Cross introduces the lives of local meteorologists who felt responsible for predicting, alerting, and
teaching residents about extreme weather conditions and safety. She shows us a side of their lives that those of us not in the business can barely imagine. Seeing the devastation afterward was a source of information for them, blended with the undeserved weight of responsibility and “‘what ifs”. Teachers, parents, and leaders in the community; friends, children and every single citizen; were touched by the storms. We see those who did not hear the warnings, who did not take heed, who chased the storms, and had no place to seek refuge, or simply did the best they could in the 15 minutes before the hit. All had their own private reasons for taking the actions that they did. Cross compassionately tells their stories. Intermingled are scientific facts that help us understand the tornadoes, the wind velocity and direction, and the best way to save your life, all stated simply. Living in Tornado Alley, I found myself immensely grateful for every word.
This is a book about love. It’s about first responders, nurses, doctors, families, political and religious leaders, and people in all walks of life. It is about what can happen in a life in less than 2 minutes. It’s about communities coming together no matter who you are. It is about perspective, possessions, and what is truly important. It’s about how one house can stand untouched, while the house next door is suddenly totally gone. Reading this book gave me the same feeling of a fast action, intense, heartrending yet profound, unforgettable movie. I have no doubt that reading it could save a life, a family, in more ways than one. CERT
• Although this is initially used to tie two ropes together it is not recommended as it can disengage easily
• Knot used in first aid bandages because it’s easy to tie and easy to release
• It can tie items together if fastening them does not require too much security.
1. Take one end in each hand.
2. Cross over the right end and wrap it around the left end. Now the right end is not on the left side.
3. Take the end on the left side and cross it over and wrap it around the end on the right.
4. Tighten the knot.
Emergencies and natural disasters are not things that most of us like to think about. But when it comes to situations such as flooding, earthquakes, tornados, or other natural and manmade situations that may occur, proper preparation and training can play a crucial role in protecting ourselves and our community.
Would you know how to put out small fires, treat medical emergencies, or search and rescue victims without putting yourself in harm’s way during a disaster? If you answered no, you are not alone; most of the population doesn’t have the skills and knowledge either.
Teens and adults from the St. Louis metro area who participate in the Mid America Teen Community Emergency Response Team, however, do know how to do all of these things – and much more.
Mid America TEEN CERT, or MATC for short, is designed to teach students ages 12 and older (including adults) to assist efficiently and effectively in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
During the 22-hour training, students learn how to open airways, control bleeding, and treat for shock, as well as how
to organize volunteers and collect disaster intelligence in order to support the efforts of first responders. Instructors include paramedics, firefighters, doctors and other qualified professionals; Mid America TEEN CERT even has a professional counselor on staff to teach the important element of psychological preparedness.
Youth volunteers who complete the training gain important skills, which enable them to help in the emergency situations that can arise in everyday life.
Many cities and communities refuse to incorporate or acknowledge TEEN CERT, mostly due to liability concerns. Some CERT programs allow minor students to take the class and claim to offer “teen” CERT. Even though the course has the same basic foundation, the original “adult” program and TEEN CERT are vastly different in approach, delivery and content.
Students who complete TEEN CERT training also come away with far more than simple emergency response skills. MATC Program Director, Mark Rosenblum, states that students learn many valuable lessons that can have a lasting impact on their lives.
“Our program teaches students to approach a situation calmly and logically, without putting themselves or others at risk,” Rosenblum said. “The training empowers students to understand that their decisions impact the outcome, and that knowing the dangers prior to implementing your course of action allows you to see more clearly when creating your plan. Mid America TEEN CERT teaches accountability, respect, trust, and team building.”
“Many of our program’s graduates have gone on to become doctors, nurses, surgeons, corpsmen, paramedics, firefighters, etc.,” Rosenblum continued, “because of what they learned and experienced taking the class.”
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs exist around the country, as do TEEN CERT programs that are specifically designed to train youth volunteers. But Mid America TEEN CERT – which is not beholden to any city or municipality and operates entirely without outside funding – is in a class by itself.
With almost 1700 volunteer participants, MATC remains one of the most popular youth programs in the nation, and has been selected as the top Emergency Preparedness Training Program and Outstanding Youth Training Program in America since 2014.
According to Rosenblum, one element that accounts for the popularity of the Mid America program are the various Boy Scout and Girl Scout merit and interest badges that are embedded within the standard TEEN CERT curriculum. But what he believes really sets his program apart from the rest is the fact that the students always come first.
“We care 100% about the welfare of each our students. I think that comes out in our training.”
Another aspect is demonstrating the importance of responsibility and respect. “I was approached by a school principal several years ago,” continued Rosenblum, “who was worried that his students taking TEEN CERT would abuse their knowledge, going as far as to say ‘they will be shooting off the fire extinguishers in the hallways if they learn how’.”
“Unfortunately, this is the mentality of many adults when it comes to teaching youth about preparedness.” Rosenblum said. “I countered by stating that students, who take our training, understand the value and importance of extinguishers [and other resources], take better care of and recognize how to use this safety equipment more responsibly.”
Mid America TEEN CERT training is free of charge and open to anyone 12 years of age and over, including adults. Trainings are held throughout the St. Louis region, and six upcoming training sessions are currently scheduled for 2018 (with two more being finalized). Dates and locations include:
• AHG Troop MO3130 will host a TEEN CERT training the weekend of 01/19, 01/20, 01/21/2018 at LINC St Charles County in Wentzville, MO.
• MICDS High School is hosting their third Mid America class on 02/16, 02/17, 02/24, 02/25/2018 at the school in Ladue, MO..
• The weekend of 03/09, 03/10, 03/11/2018, Scouts and adults from Gravois Trail District Crew 2725 will take the
• Boone Trails District Troop 28 from LifeSpring Church in St. Peters, MO will host the training on 04/06, 04/07, 04/08/2018.
• Wentzville School District and the City of Wentzville will hold a teen and adult training class the weekend of 05/04, 05/05, 05/06/2018 at Holt High School in Wentzville, MO.
• St. Charles City-County Library is hosting TEEN CERT training on 07/13, 07/14, 07/20, 07/21/2018 at the Spencer Road Library Branch in St. Peters, MO.
Emergency situations can be scary, but with the proper preparation and training, even teens can learn to respond confidently and effectively – and maybe even save a life. CERT
Most folks go to The Villages for rest and relaxation. The Villages is a retirement community in central Florida and one of the most well known in the U.S. With a population of approximately 115,000, golf, polo, pools, fitness trails, recreational centers and performing arts and businesses. Perfect atmosphere to sit back. Not David Bussone! Since retiring in 2012, David Bussone hasn’t stopped volunteering! He has been the Commander of CERT in the Villages for over three years, first serving as a training officer.
He is involved with his church leading the past capital campaign committee and an effort to develop plans for a new addition and sanctuary. He also founded and was elected president of a local chapter of the Sons of The American Revolution (SAR).
Prior to retiring, he was a multi-facility manager and seasoned hospital and health
system CEO, with significant consulting and turnaround experience. He has worked for leading investor owned hospital management companies, as well as major not-for-profit and academic healthcare institutions. In his roles as a multi-facility executive he has been responsible for from 2 - 12 hospitals. He also served as a senior officer in two publicly traded healthcare companies. Throughout his career he served on the boards of numerous organizations and charities. David Bussone is the perfect example of a CERT member making a difference!
Knowing that we have trained a significant number of individuals who are better prepared to care for themselves, their families, neighbors, and our community in the event of a disaster.
I would have to note 2: The first is having improved our ability to respond logistically in a disaster. We have purchased two trailers which contain supplies, generators, and other items needed in an emergency. And The Villages Public Safety Department has provided us with two trucks for CERT’s use.
The second is the improvement in communications through large scale distribution of radios to teams, addition of repeaters that expand our ability to contact one another over larger distances, and increase in the number of amateur radio operators within CERT. These tools were invaluable during and after Hurricane Irma.
I love playing golf (even though I am a duffer). And there is no better place to play than in The Villages. We have 38 9-hole executive courses, and 12 championship (18 or 27 hole) courses. With more than 600 holes of golf, The Villages has more holes than any other location in the world.
There are two ways. First, they can become members of CERT and serve the community. And/or, second, encourage their clubs to financially support CERT which has no consistent source of donations. (There are several thousand clubs in The Villages, which a 55+ community of approximately 130,000.)
Regrettably, too many people are not familiar with the CERT Program. Here in the St. Louis area, we have our share of flooding and tornadoes and, yes, that nagging fact that we are on the New Madrid earthquake faultline, so obviously we are not disaster free. It greatly behooves us to be prepared. Getting the word out that we citizens can help ourselves in dire times of need is a huge undertaking.
Not only can it be very costly, we depend on volunteers to educate and participate. The St Louis Metropolitan area (I include St. Charles County) is lucky enough to be the home of a very active TEEN CERT program which is offered at various fire stations, libraries and even high schools. I was very excited when I heard that St. Louis Community College was now offering an Adult CERT course in Wildwood which is in west St. Louis County! Offered in the class catalog, the non-college-credited course is offered FREE of charge! Even if no one signed up, it was great publicity informing the public that such a program exists.
I was lucky enough to attend a few of the classes and was highly impressed with the full room of attendees as well as the various teachers of the course. Firefighters, police, and EMS were there to teach and the “students” were mesmerized, attentively sitting at the edge of their seats and taking notes. The class was composed of men and women from various areas of the county, different occupations, ages,and lives, and all ready and eager to learn.
The power that one person has in order to make a difference is astonishing. When an individual can make something happen that has the poten-
tial to save lives, we are all blessed. Mike Thiemann is one of those people. He, along with other CERT leaders helped to make it happen.
When Michael D. Thiemann was 16 years old, he drove by a fire station in Franklin County, MO which had a sign asking for volunteers. He became a junior firefighter, working on serious calls that were life changing experiences. At the ripe old age of 17, he became a paid dispatcher. By 19, he was teaching CPR. Then in 1999, he attended a 3 day training session and became an instructor for CERT. His first class was teaching in Washington, MO to a small group, using overhead slides and a projector. His second class was in Eureka, MO, a quiet Meramec River town where flooding habitually gets ugly in the spring. He was a spokesperson with Red Cross, and assisted relief efforts. When 9/11 occurred, he assisted in the development and deployment of the first “Terrorism Preparedness” program. Due to September 11, 2001, the world changed, and the demand for classes increased. Participants involved in disaster preparedness for all hazards went from 20,000-30,000 to 60,000-65,000.
In 2003, he started his career at Metro West. His initial assignment was to implement Community Emergency Response Team training and to support the public relations and public education activities. His degrees, certifications, qualifications, and contributions throughout the years are inspiring!
Due to the work of Bob Reboulet, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Tim Flora, then Vice-Chairman of the Metro West Fire Protection District, the Metro West Fire District replicated the program for CERT. Bob had a vision and passion to bring the CERT program to the community. He ensured that district funding was made available to fund the CERT program at Metro West. With his enthusiasm and with his team members, Mike Thiemann’s work with grant funding and the efforts of the Meramec Valley Citizen Corps Council, the program was a huge success. Attendance was high and participation in CERT flourished.
But in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, the class attendance dwindled. 9/11 was a thing of the past, and due to social media and cell phones, citizens felt safe with thinking help was just a phone call away to safety and emergency assistance.
CERT classes had empty seats. So once again, how do we teach citizens the importance of emergency response skills?
Mike vehemently pays tribute to Frank Arnoldy, a now retired Crestwood, MO Police Chief. A policeman for 43 years, Frank and the other members of the Board of Directors of the Meramec Valley Citizen Corps Council had the desire to bring CERT into the college setting. The class would be offered by the community college but was totally free! Volunteer leadership from past CERT programs are stepping into the classroom to manage logistical and program related areas to further expand CERT in this new setting. The class I attended had people from all over the county who came to learn new skills or to refresh their skills. All of them were people who want to make a difference.
The opportunity to educate, change and assist your community is ready for the taking. The power of a few people can make the difference to a city block, a community or an entire city. CERT in schools at any level may be the answer! CERT
Somerset (CERT) County Community Emergency Response Team held a basic training class at the Somerset County Technology Center on April 3-5, 2018. The Somerset County Department of Emergency Services administers the course in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
Three local instructors and a school district guidance counselor talked about disaster preparedness for hazards, educating 36 adult LPN students of the 2018 SCTC Somerset & Bedford LPN program, preparing them for hazards that may impact their local community.
Their training consists of basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. This training learned in the classroom and during exercises allows CERT members to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
These are some of the volunteer CERT members that support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. Somerset brought a guest speaker from the American Red Cross Disaster Response Team to speak about local volunteer opportunities. Since 2013 they have successfully trained 174 Licensed Practical Nursing Students in the CERT. program. This includes everybody from the Somerset County Technology Center to our volunteer CERT. instructors and the organizations that supported us in the financial gaps from the lack of state funding have again prevailed to continue offering this beneficial program. CERT
For more information to get involved with Somerset CERT contact Joel Landis, Training Officer.
If you have a picture of you or your group holding a copy of CERT Responder Magazine while traveling, please feel free to share it with us so it can be enjoyed by other CERT members. Send your submission to : certstories@certresponder.com. Any picture that we place in the magazine, the sender will be rewarded with a CERT Responder Magazine T-shirt.
A burn is tissue damage that results from scalding, overexposure to the sun or other radiation, contact with flames, chemicals or electricity, or smoke inhalation.
Call 911 or seek immediate care for major burns, which:
• Are deep and painless
• Blisters
• Cause the skin to be dry and leathery
• May appear charred or have patches of white, brown or black
• Are larger than 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) in diameter or cover the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks or a major joint or around a joint
A minor burn that doesn’t require emergency care may involve:
• Superficial redness similar to a sunburn
• Pain
• An area no larger than 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) in diameter
Until emergency help arrives:
• Stop the burning process, remove clothes
• Protect the burned person from further harm. If you can do so safely, make sure the person you’re helping is not in contact with the source of the burn. For electrical burns, make sure the power source is off before you approach the burned person.
• Make certain that the person burned is breathing. If needed, begin rescue breathing if you know how. This might involve soot in the airway or singed hairs, which will cause airway swelling.
• Remove jewelry, belts, and other restrictive items, especially from around burned areas and the neck. Burned areas swell rapidly.
• Cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist bandage or a clean cloth.
• Don’t immerse large severe burns in water. Doing so could cause a serious loss of body heat (hypothermia).
• Elevate the burned area. Raise the wound above heart level, if possible.
• Watch for signs of shock. Signs and symptoms include fainting, pale complexion or breathing in a notably shallow fashion.
For minor burns:
• Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water or apply a cool, wet compress until the pain eases.
• Remove rings or other tight items from the burned area. Try to do this quickly and gently, before the area swells.
• Don’t break blisters. Fluid-filled blisters protect against infection. If a blister breaks, clean the area with water (mild soap is optional). Apply an antibiotic ointment. But if a rash appears, stop using the ointment.
• Apply Aloe Vera lotion. Once a burn is completely cooled. This helps prevent drying and some provide pain relief.
• Bandage the burn. Cover the burn with a dry sterile gauze bandage (not fluffy cotton). Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the area, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.
• If needed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). CERT
ISUBMITTED BY JEN HUMPHREY, AQUATICS DIRECTOR OF THE WILDWOOD YMCA
magine this: a three year old girl holding onto the side of the pool, lets go and can’t reach back to the wall. She is not quite tall enough to lift her face up to take a breath. She reaches her arms up trying to find something, anything, to help her get out of the water. Then, there it is: a lifeguard reaches out and grabs her hands, pulling her safely to the side of the pool.
Or a small child rolling from their front to their back in a foot of water, right in front of his mom. The lifeguard sees something abnormal in this behavior and sees that the child is unconscious, jumps in and pulls him out and immediately begins CPR.
How did the lifeguards know these children needed help? What were the signs of distress? Many swimmers go under water and reach up, waving their hands in the air. Many children roll around in the water, constantly turning somersaults. What alerted the lifeguard to the severity of these situations?
Fact: Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury/ death among children ages 1-4 and one of the top three causes among persons aged < 29?*
all types of water, not just swimming pools. Drownings can occur in less than an inch of water. This means parents and guardians should supervise children in bathrooms as well, to ensure they do not topple over into a toilet or tub, where they are unable to right themselves.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury/death among children ages 1-4 and one of the top three causes among persons aged < 29?*
Did you know that 88% of children who drown were under some sort of supervision? That 60% of youth drownings occur within 10 feet of safety? That it can take less than 20 seconds for a person to slip below the surface of the water?*
At the YMCA, we believe drowning deaths are preventable, and we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to stay safe around water. We offer swim lessons and water safety lessons for those ages 6 months and older. We educate parents to be vigilant with their children around water,
If you ever wanted to learn about water rescues, specifically lifeguarding, your local YMCA offers trainings regularly throughout the year. You can find these classes at www.yexchange. org. These classes are available for those ages 16 and older, and focus on learning how to prevent drowning deaths as well as learning how to recognize and respond to aquatic and other emergencies. In these classes, candidates receive hands on training (simulated) for basic life support, basic first aid, emergency oxygen administration and water rescue techniques. If you never thought about learning how to perform water rescues, you might want to reconsider. Aquatic emergencies can happen anywhere. As stated earlier, drownings can occur in less than an inch of water. Knowing what action to take will not only prevent these accidents, but also help decrease the severity of these occurrences when unpreventable incidents occur. CERT
* YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor Training Program
As the summer season approaches, so too does that traditional time when families take to the road and explore destinations familiar and perhaps new. If you are like many, there are hours of planning and preparation to ensure the trip is a success. But if we think about everything that we may encounter, can we answer the question “Are we really prepared?”
How we train and operate in a particular climate may greatly affect how we perform, or more accurately, estimate how long we can perform.
As a community of first responders, many of us have a hard time “leaving the job” behind when we travel. It’s a very big world out there, and at some point, we will be presented the opportunity to ply our trade and hopefully bring some order out of a chaotic situation. In these regards, we operate on autopilot, falling back on years of training and muscle memory to perform. But…what about those that are committed to the CERT mission, but perhaps are not an everyday first responder? How can we assist these valuable resources?
A perfect first step that aligns with our aforementioned travel season is the exercise of situational awareness and preparation. Let’s use a hypothetical trip to focus on these points. If your trip takes you to a specific area of the country for the first time, how much research should be performed to get an idea of what to expect? Being honest, most of us do check the weather for the time period we’ll be in the area, but how accurate and detailed is the information? As an example, most folks who live near the beach or in a tidal region can share some interesting facts about the strength, timing, and variations of tides. I recall a recent family visit to the greater Boston area that included a day trip to the beaches along Cape Cod. Although I checked detailed forecasts, I was amazed at the distance the tide went out in the afternoon (estimated at almost a half mile) and the speed at which it returned. Common knowledge if you live there, but perhaps not for the neophyte visitor.
Weather is one of the biggest concerns, along with scene safety, for responders of any level of training. How we train and operate in a particular climate may greatly affect how we perform, or more accurately, estimate how long we can perform. If you’re acclimated to a warm weather environment and suddenly find yourself in a cool or cold situation (by choice or chance), you may find that your traditional work cycles are negatively affected. A classic example is the reduction in musculoskeletal functions as your core temperature drops. This may be brought on by simply being exposed for an extended period of time to a chilling rain without the proper shell/liner in place. Your body compensates for the loss of heat by shivering, which then progresses into shunting of heat towards the core. This process begins the hypothermic cycle. Interestingly, this could have been prevented with the proper level of planning and anticipation of the expected elements, and most importantly, packing the right equipment.
As CERT members, do we pack our response kits along with our vacation luggage? If you do, fantastic. If you don’t, ask yourself: If there is an event/emergency where I am, can I, or will I offer to engage? I ask you to be honest with yourself
when you answer. Experience shows me that the level of training will dictate the response.
A classic example I experienced was during the Joplin, Missouri tornado response in May 2011. I was assigned as a Task Force Leader (TFL) for elements of a 51-member team from the St. Louis area that arrived on scene
approximately 10 hours after the touchdown. My team was assigned a sector grid search for an apartment complex that was completely leveled. Communications and logistics support were fragmented, but we commenced the search with our assets shortly after daylight broke. Security and accountability are always a priority with troops in the field; this mission was no different. In this operation, a perimeter had been established with a positive control point. After about three hours of methodical searching, I was tapped on the shoulder by a young gentleman and young lady. Both were wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops. I inquired how they got into the area and what they were doing.
“They told us to come see you.”
“Who told you to come see me?”
“They did,” pointing down to the end of the street where two people were standing by a barricade.
“I’m not sure how you got past the checkpoint, but why are you here?”
“We want to help. We’re nurses. Those guys said you could use us.”
At that point, my situational awareness became less than optimal, because now I not only had to manage my known resources, I had an unknown number of self-assigned responders in my area. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t totally surprised by the response; I’d probably be trying to help as well. But there was no way I could let these two individuals operate in this area. I had just sent one of my technicians back to the staging area for a new pair of boots because he had just run a roofing nail through one of his; they were wearing flip-flops!
I’m not sure where they were from, or if they had travelled to the area to offer assistance, but if they had practiced some situational awareness and/or planning, (particularly in the protective equipment department) they may have been able to assist more in the forward operating area.
As responders, providers, and leaders, we hold ourselves to a higher standard and our communities expect us to be the resources in times of need. Let’s ensure that as we travel this summer, or any time, that we take the steps necessary to know as much as we can about our destination and prepare as much for the communities we visit as where we live.
Stay Safe! CERT
It happens far too often. We hear on the news about a missing person near a body of water. Whether it’s a lost youth playing with their friends by a fast moving creek, an overturned boat, a suicide, or perhaps a crime scene, the anxious loved ones left behind live in relentless constant worry, fear, and hope. No matter how or what occurs, we need closure in order to grieve. How agonizing it must feel to never stop wondering or never stop looking. Since 2005, Dennis and Tammy Watters have devoted their lives to helping the families of missing victims who disappeared in water.
Team Watters can take the time needed, giving the search and the family of the lost person a chance to have special attention and assistance.
Their mutual love of being on the water and sharing the fun of fishing opened the world of fishing tournaments for them. They purchased a Humminbird Side Image Sonar System, and when they were testing it on the Mississippi River, Dennis discovered a car. As fate would have it, Dennis was no stranger to working with water recovery. He had been involved with the Wood River Illinois Volunteer Emergency Corp. He recalled that a school teacher’s car had gone into the water, but neither the car nor woman had ever been found. Dennis notified the police and sure enough, when divers used his coordinates, three
years after her disappearance, both woman and vehicle were found. That was just the beginning.
Since that time in 2005, Dennis and Tammy have formed Team Watters Sonar Search and Recovery, a not-for-profit. Their mission: to use our expertise, experience, technology, time, and effort to do everything in our power to bring loved ones who are lost in our waterways home to their families, and to assist law enforcement agencies in the recovery and preservation of evidence.
They have traveled all over the United States: places like Kansas City to assist in the high-profile case of Toni Anderson,
who was found in the Missouri River just this past year.
Helping towns like Olustee, Florida or McKinney Texas or Columbus Ohio, they have located guns, bodies, and cars, some of which were stolen and dumped. They have received commendations, rewards, certificates, and letters from police departments, government agencies, and of course, surviving families.
Two CERT instructors, Tim and Ed, had been teaching for many years and became close friends.
We can’t help but wonder why the police cannot perform their own searches. However, the answer is understandable. Police Departments can be short staffed, short on time, and short on money. Many simply do not have the needed resources. Team Watters can take the time needed, giving the search and the family of the lost person a chance to have special attention and assistance. Plus, from their extensive experiences, they know exactly what to look for.
Working with the police, search and rescue, dogs, and divers is the easy part. Facing the families is a double-edged sword. They are grateful for the work that has been done to find their loved one, however one can only imagine the dread of having to tell a family that there is no hope any longer once the victim is found. When writing this article, I looked at their Facebook page and website. The testimonies and letters were emotionally heartfelt declarations of thanks, and high accolades, written by families that were grateful for the time and effort to help them gain closure. The difference the Watters have made in so many lives is astounding.
Even more amazing is that Team Watters Sonar do their work for free, and operate on donations only. Funds are needed for travel, equipment and fuel. If you would like to help, please do so. Team Watters Sonar 5893 State Route 140 Moro,IL 62067. CERT
One day, they made a pact that whoever died first would come back to let the other know if there was a CERT team in Heaven.
Several years went by, and suddenly Ed died. a week after the funeral, Tim is visited by Ed’s spirit. Tim asks Ed “Is there a CERT Team in Heaven?”
Ed replies, “I have good news and bad news. “The good news is, yes, there is an awesome CERT team with all the equipment you can imagine.”
Tim asks, “What’s the bad news?” Ed replies, “You’re teaching tomorrow”.
If you have humor to share related to CERT, please send it to “ certstories@certresponder.com for consideration.
If you want to see fireworks, leave it to the professionals at the public shows.
Even sparkers can burn hot enough and cause 3rd degree burns which will require medical attention, so always be careful!
If you do decide to set off your own fireworks, here are a few simple safety tips:
1. Keep a close eye on children when around fireworks.
2. Keep a water bucket around.
3. Store extra fireworks in a wooden box with self-closing lid
Fireworks cause approx. 20,000 fires a year.
12,000 injuries reported yearly
Almost a ¼ of all visits to emergency rooms are from firework injuries.
Approximately 2/3 of firework injuries involve the hands or face.
Many times we are asked –who is the Search and Rescue Society of British Columbia (SARBC) and what is it that you do?
It all started in 1983 with one man’s idea: The belief that lives could be saved by promoting the exchange of information, by developing new search techniques, by speeding up the search and analysis process, and by showing why planning information is so important. The belief that it doesn’t matter who finds the missing subject, it only matters that the missing subject is found. The belief that every lost subject deserves to have every resource made available to them, free of charge.
We search for sign that leads us to the haystack, and from there, we look for the needle.
These founding beliefs remain today.
The name was not chosen to imply that we oversee or govern Search and Rescue in British Columbia. We don’t. Most teams have their location as part of their name – i.e. Anytown Search and Rescue. Our geographical area is British Columbia. We will, and have, responded to all parts of the Province. Our services are available, free of charge, to any citizen in British Columbia. Hence, the Search and Rescue Society of British Columbia made sense.
We are a registered charity, non-government (NGO), independent, direct access community support organization. Our organizational structure is very similar to the Community Emergency Response Teams of our southerly friends.
Before we talk about what we do, let’s talk about the question everyone wants to ask – “Why aren’t we affiliated with the government?” The answer is quite simple. The government affiliated teams have their services mandated by the governing body. This contradicts with one of the reasons our Society formed – to develop new search techniques. When
you are mandated to provide set services, it is difficult to move outside the box, or the mandate, to look at new methods, new techniques, new equipment.
So that is who we are and why we are an independent group. Now, let’s talk about what we do.
In the simplest of terms – we provide equipment and resources that are not normally available to wilderness missing person Incidents.
Some people think that we look for the needle in the haystack, but this is not true. We search for sign that leads us to the haystack, and from there, we look for the needle. We don’t search for clues, we search for sign. Sign of passage, sign of something that doesn’t belong. We search for sign that can be seen with the naked eye, but more importantly, we believe, we search for sign that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
We research new techniques and equipment that will help us find the all-important sign. Some of the research pans out, and new techniques are developed. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but we keep learning. Even the techniques and equipment that
didn’t work taught us. In some cases, it didn’t work as expected, but it worked in a different and better way. It provided us with the foundation that led to proven techniques, trusted equipment, and reliable operating procedures.
One such example is our night search techniques. The first release of this equipment/tactic was noted as 1. We are now at 6. Does this mean that 1 is no longer used? No. With each level we found different sign was detected, so now all levels are utilized depending on what type of sign we are searching for.
We believe strongly in planning information and in sound Search Management techniques. In 1985, we started building the ShiftPOA software that was used throughout Canada and the United States after its release. In 1986, we were the first civilian use of GIS data for search analysis. In 1990, we released an enhanced version of ShiftPOA, and that was also the year that Timeline Analysis was developed.
The Society initiated a mandate to be fully trained, and to train others, in Light Heavy Rescue Disaster Response skills. In 1991, this
mandate was fulfilled when the Society instructed multiple government Ministries and community organizations in Light Heavy Rescue.
In 1992, the Dive Team (Recovery) was formed. In 1993, underwater search and recovery techniques were developed and deployed.
1994 brought the R.A.P.I.D and C.A.T.S methods as well as new techniques for Night Searching. Night Search became a focal point for our Society in 1995, and the Advanced Human Detection technique was developed.
To this day, most of our searching is done after sundown. It is truly amazing how much, with the right equipment and methods, you can actually see in the dark. We get asked a lot, and sometimes accused of, putting our teams at risk searching at night. To us, that is like saying the teams that search during the day are putting their teams at risk. Just as daylight teams are trained to search in a lit environment, our teams train to search in dark environments. A recon of the area is done in daylight to highlight obstacles and hazards, but the majority of the searching for sign is, as we mentioned, done after sundown.
One of our busiest times was during the blizzard of 96: 37 calls in 50 hours.
In 1999, we used a Thermal Imager for the first time on an Incident. It proved to be a very promising piece of equipment, and over the years, the technique has been fine tuned. We have several now (not FLIRS) that can be used on land or from the air.
1999 was also the year that we moved to remote search management. On an Incident, the Search Manager is no longer in the field with the team. They remain at the EOC and communicate to the team via real time, BC wide communications.
In 2000, the Society expanded its marine search capabilities by adding towed Side Scan Sonar as well as the addition of a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Over the years, the marine capabilities have been further enhanced with the addition of multiple high resolution sonar systems, deep drop video, towed metal detector arrays, and multiple marine craft.
Since 1994, our team was doing and had experience with Evidence Searches, so the acquisition of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was a welcome addition in 2001. Training and working with the GPR lead us to start researching recovery of trapped persons due to structural collapse. Given that we live in an Earthquake prone area, the migration from research to implementation of collapsed structures search and rescue was a natural progression. Over the years since 2001, we have expanded the rescue equipment available to include live person detection ground penetrating radar, acoustic search equipment, multiple sets of powered hydraulic rescue tools, concrete breaching and cutting equipment, and mass casualty medical treatment and transport systems. It is our true hope that all of this equipment will only ever be used for training.
So now that we’ve outlined the equipment we acquired and the techniques we developed and utilized, it becomes clearer what it is we do. We act as a “search of last appeal” on ground and in marine environments. When traditional methods have not been successful, our methods may be able to assist in providing resolution for the loved ones of a missing person.
Many of you reading this article may wonder why you have never heard of us. When we respond, it is seldom in the media and that’s the way we want it. When we respond, it is usually no longer a case of Rescue but rather Recovery. The loved ones of the missing person are going through enough, they don’t need to be reminded when they turn on the TV, radio, or go on the Internet, that we are looking for a body. We stay out of the media out of respect for the loved ones of the missing person.
Much like the CERT organizations to our southern border, we rely heavily on the generosity of others. We are not government funded, but we do receive the occasional grant. Every dollar counts. In spite of a limited budget and due largely to the outstanding commitment of our dedicated membership, we have been able to maintain a fixed base (EOC) along with five primary response vehicles and two support trailers.
When traditional methods have not been successful, our methods may be able to assist in providing resolution for the loved ones of a missing person.
With the exception of Project Lifesaver, not every search we’ve had has been successful. But the file never closes. We keep looking for new techniques, new ideas, and as they present themselves, we go back to the open files. We will keep repeating this process because every missing person deserves not only every resource available to them, but also every opportunity to come home. CERT
