CERT training Gone through it. It is WELL worth the effort. It's not designed to make you professional anythings. It's designed to help keep you alive and well until the professionals get there. It's also designed to help you help your neighbors. For more information, see CERT. When you get through the class, join the CERT Email list. Encourage your team leadership to do as well. I wish you well.
CERT Overview CERT Overview The Process: 1) Organize Team 2) Size Up – Recon Scene 3) Traige – victims 4) Stabilize victims and remove to Casualty Collection Point Use memonic “SAFE” to remember: SEARCH – Safely, systematic, buddy system ATTACH Tag - Triage first, rescue later FIX – Life threatening injury EXTRICATE - Remove victims from danger Incident Management Purpose - to produce effective results safely! 1) Do the most good for the most people 2) Account for rescuers, victims, resources ICS Process: 1) Identify SCOPE 2) Determine STRATEGY 3) DEPLOY resources 4) DOCUMENT actions and results Use memonic CALM to remember CERT command structure: COMMAND ACCOUNTABILITY LOGISTICS MEDICAL Remember the robot from the movie Star Wars - “R2D2”: RECON > RANK > DISENTANGLE > DOCTOR RECON: Maintain situational awareness Check surroundings frequently Stop, Think, Observe, Plan, Act Sizeup - hazard identification, damage assessment No wall, no roof, no enter! Heavy damage don’t enter to rescue – danger tape Moderate Damage – non structural, in/out quickly Light damage – Go for it! RANK: aka (triage in-place prior to rescue) Respirations <30/min, not “panting like a puppy” Perfusion blanch test nail bed<2secs Mental status – awake, aware, understands simple commands DISENTANGLE - Rescue decision based upon Risk to Rescuers! Rescue greatest number in the shortest exposure Remove injured from immediate danger Rescue lightly trapped first Work safe, use PPE, Time, Distance, Shielding DOCTOR - Traige First – Rescue Later Affix TAG before rescue. Control bleeding Treat for shock “RECON” - For Hazards and SEARCH for Victims Document hazards and search findings SLOW DOWN – perform an adequate SIZE-UP Before entering walk building perimeter, Mark building using duct tape strips placed to left of door as you enter: “RECON” - SEARCH METHOD: 1) As you enter call out: “Search Team, Is Anyone In Here?” "Are You Hurt?” “Can you walk to me?” If hurt or trapped say “STAY PUT we’ll come to you.” 2) Physical Search Interior – systematic, top down or bottom up 3) Stop frequently to LISTEN 4) Triangulate using flashlight 5) Mark searched areas, document results 6) Report by radio to Command, hazards, victims requiring extraction: “RANK” - Triage begins with size-up. Stop, Look, Listen, and Think. Stop and look and listen. THINK about how you will approach the task at hand. Continue size up as you work. Conduct Voice Triage. Call out. "Come to the sound of my voice.” Instruct survivors who are ambulatory to remain at a safe location, and continue with the triage operation. Follow a Systematic Route. Start with victims closest to you and work outward in a systematic fashion. Conduct Triage Evaluation. Evaluate victims and tag either RED (immediate), YELLOW(delayed), or BLACK (DEAD). Also evaluate any GREEN walking wounded. Everyone gets a tag. Treat RED Victims Immediately. Airway management, bleeding control, and/or treatment for shock for RED (immediate) victims. Document Results for: Effective deployment of resources. Information on locations of victims Record number of casualties by degree of severity Remember “RPM" Respirations <30/min Perfusion blanch test nail bed<2secs Mental status understands simple commands “DISENTANGLE” - RESCUE Purpose – Create safe environment for victim PROCESS: 1) LIFT OBJECTS – don’t step on, step over or around. 2) USE TOOLS – simple machines 3) BE SAFE – Ensure object free and people clear before moving. Beware of pinch points. 4) TRIAGE - victim before moving. 5) DOCUMENT RESULTS LIFTS AND CARRIES Fireman’s carry – Only if victim if 80# or less Solo extraction methods: Clothes drag Log roll and Blanket drag Army (Rope/Webbing) Drag* *Roll casualty onto back, thread rope or webbing under small of back, slide across top of buttocks, loop rope or webbing under, through and around belt at hips, “X” across chest and under armpits. Attach snap link and drag to safety. Team carry methods: Log roll and blanket carry – advantage through doorways, around corners or up and down stairs (requires minimum four people) Door, table, surf board or other long-wide board 2”x6” or wider – (best with four rescuers) if victim small can do with two people over short distance. “CAT stretcher” - Two folding metal chairs, flat-stacked back-to-back, legs out, wrap or tie securely with duct tape, 550#cord or webbing. Chair carry problematic – Evac chairs require training. “DOCTOR” Respiration: Control head, open airway, look, listen feel, not breathing – DEAD 12-20 breaths per minute OK, if “Panting Like a Puppy” - RED Comfort lowers respiration rate - helps calm victim down Let them sit up if comfortable, don’t “make” them lie down. Cool burns with water only - Don’t remove clothing, soak to cool Burns to face critical, swelling impairs breathing If victim inhaled hot air tag RED Perfusion: - Blanch test nail bed > 2 secs. Head or spinal cord injury causes blood vessel dilation drops BP Chest injuries Major bleeds Abdominal injuries Handle GENTLY, elevate feet, keep warm, direct pressure, pressure point Prevent secondary infection, irrigate only, apply dressing, bandage Mental Status Unconscious victim – RED Semi-Conscious - unaware, can’t follow simple commands - RED Conscious victim, awake and aware can be cared for and made more comfortable, move to a safe place, protected from weather, wind, rain, and tag Yellow. SAFETY AWARENESS - Disaster Risk Factors Tool / equipment hazards, risk of hand, eye, head injuries, electric shock, chemical burns Human factors, stress / fatigue Structural instability, terrain - Trauma risk, falls, building collapse potential, loose rock, fallen limbs, wet or insecure footing, falls, puncture wounds or d lacerations from debris Environmental effects: lightning, cold, wet, wind-blown dust, debris, smoke, fumes Flooding: water rescue: REACH out to victim with hand, pole, ladder, THROW victim a rope, life vest, picnic cooler, anything that floats ROW out to reach them from a boat or raft GO to CALL 911, do not delay. Incidental exposures: - If contaminated: Remove everything, including jewelry Cut off clothing normally removed over the head Place contaminated clothing in plastic bag, tie closed Wash your hands before using them to shower Flush entire body with cool water Blot dry with absorbent cloth Put on clean clothes Avoid use of affected areas, to prevent re-exposure Report to responders for thorough decontamination and medical assessment. Recommended PPE: Sturdy footwear – Ankle support, traction sole, safety toe Double-Glove = Work gloves worn over med exam gloves Safety glasses with side guards Rain gear and suitable outdoor work clothing Reflective vest Hard hat N95 respirator Infection Control Awareness - Potentially Infectious Materials • Body secretions / excretions Human: poor sanitation conditions Animal: livestock, rodents, vermin, insects • Decayed carcasses • Hanta virus from contact with rodent feces • Putrescible materials - Spoiled foodstuff, garbage and refuse • Allergens - Concentrated fungi, molds Mechanisms of Transmission • Direct contact (“portal of entry”) Non-intact skin • Penetrating injury (percutaneous) physical injury, portal of entry • Aerosol • Vector borne Transmissible Organisms • Tetanus (no tetanus toxoid booster within 10 years) • Hepatitis A, B (C much less likely) • Enteric bacteria (e.g. E. coli, Salmonella) • Vermin-mediated – Cats: Toxoplasmosis – Mice, rats: (urine): Leptospirosis; (feces) Hantavirus – Tularemia – Plague (rat flea) • Toxins (botulinum) decaying, spoiled foodstuffs • Vector-borne (Lyme, West Nile, Malaria) Disaster Worker Protection • Good personal hygiene Wash hands, hand sanitizers, double-glove • DEET containing insect repellants • Tetanus toxoid booster (every 10 yrs) • Hepatitis A/B vaccine • PPE use Goggles, Gloves, hand sanitizers N95 respirators, disposable single use, correct sizes, fit testing • Awareness training • Medical screening (post event) if confirmed exposure CERT Actions Upon Exposure to Blood or Body Fluids • Identify source patient to enable blood testing • If consent not obtained, public safety must be notified immediately to initiate legal action permitted under Virginia Code to obtain source patient’s blood for test • Incident Safety Officer completes Exposure Incident Report in compliance with CDC guidelines. • DO NOT DELAY treatment, go direct to nearest hospital emergency room • Record all pertinent information regarding specific exposure and bring with you to the emergency room.
CERT isn't a jobs program, it is volunteer service That isn't the intent of CERT. It is a volunteer program intended to enable citizens to help themselves and their neighbors during a disaster. The rational is that when SHTF people are going to help anyway. Communities may as well give them useful skills so that they can do so safely without getting killed in the process. Many post-disaster deaths are of well-intentioned citizens who try to help. But without proper equipment or training, and they may become victims themselves. CERT teaches basic urban search and rescue skills and safety awareness which supplements having plain common sense. We conduct the training in neighborhoods and with community groups, at work sites and in apartment and condominum complexes.
Cert The 4x4 club (www.poineer4wheelers.org ) I belong to is in the process of creating an emergency team that has been asked to assist the regional emergency preparedness office with volunteer help and vehicles that are capable of moving in extreme conditions. At present we have 30 members who are signed up. We are studying to take our Technician level ham radio test on the 16th of November. We have vehicle ID (decals) and photo IDs for each member issued through the regional office. We hope to all get signed up for a CERT class before the end of the year. If we have team members and their spouses take the class, we should be able to add about 50 CERT trained people to the roster. I have looked through the class curriculum and am excited about what we can learn. The process of getting trained and prepared at first seemed to be a monumental task. But we are gradually getting ready. Ham radio capability, Cert training, vehicle readiness and personal readiness are our main focus. This forum will be a very valuable tool for us to use. There is a huge amount of knowledge here and this site will be a wonderful tool to use. Thanks, Tom Hiser Seward, Nebraska
