WINDSOR C-1: Teens train in disaster response

Rock Community provides preparedness courses to students


By Trish Wallace
Thursday, September 4, 2008 8:47 AM CDT

In case of a natural disaster or county-wide emergency, a select group of students at Windsor High School could be their classmates' saving grace.

The students make up the school's teen version of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), groups of citizens who are trained to respond to emergencies in their areas in the first several hours following a disaster, such as an earthquake. The trained individuals maintain their immediate locations until emergency personnel can arrive.

Members of Teen CERT at Windsor are chosen from among the school's most elite academic performers. Training for the program occasionally requires students to miss class, so the school is careful to select students with strong academic standing to participate.

This year's Teen CERT training began last week.

Ron Harder, public information officer for Rock Community Fire Protection District, said the first day of training consisted of mostly classroom instruction and included an entire walk-through of the school building. During the walk-through students learned about potential danger sites, such as the commons area that is surrounded by many windows, and where resources such as tools and wood are located.

The second day included more hands-on activities, including cribbing and lever practice for moving heavy material in the event of a building collapse, light search and rescue training and use of fire extinguishers.

As students approached a controlled flame in pairs, Harder said teamwork is the most important goal.

In addition to putting out fires and handling structural damage, the teens involved with the program learn basic first aid, triage and disaster psychology-the impact a disaster can have on them. After the initial two days of training, the group meets again every month.

Teen CERT began four or five years ago with the influence of Deputy Chief Kevin Grimshaw of Rock Community. The idea for Teen CERT was developed during a phone conversation with Ruth Wisdom, a former school nurse at Windsor. She asked Grimshaw how the school should respond to a disaster. Through their conversation, Teen CERT was born.

As a 1984 Windsor graduate, the program is close to Grimshaw's heart.

"That makes it really neat for me," he said. "It's neat to give back."

ROCK COMMUNITY: Citizens train as emergency workers

By Trish Wallace
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 10:23 AM CDT

When local disasters threaten Jefferson County communities, trained volunteers are ready.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates citizens on how to care for themselves and their surrounding areas in the first few hours of an emergency, before first responders arrive.

The Rock Community Fire Protection District is teaming with the Jefferson County Citizen Corps (JCCC) to offer a new branch of the Jefferson County CERT program.

Through CERT, citizens learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic response skills including first aid, CPR, fire safety, light search and rescue, medical operations, team organization and an overview of terrorism.

Ron Harder, Rock Community public information officer, said CERT training teaches volunteers how to identify and reduce potential hazards in their own homes and neighborhoods.

The new program will offer a localized group of CERT volunteers to serve as an extension of the fire district.

"It will create an arm of Rock Community in conjunction with Jefferson County CERT," Harder said.

The goal of the Rock Community CERT team will be to not only have a trained citizen team trained and ready, but to have a team that will also volunteer for projects that improve community emergency preparedness in their own neighborhoods.

Rock Community is hosting an informational meeting 7 p.m. July 8 at House 4, located at 3889 Miller Road in Arnold. Attendees are under no obligation to commit to training or volunteering at the meeting, and no qualifications are required to begin CERT training.

To become a trained CERT volunteer, local residents must participate in a 20-hour training program approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Expenses for CERT training is covered by the Department of Homeland Security's Citizen Corps Grant program.

For more information, visit the district's Web site at www.rockfire-rescue.org or call 636-296-2211.