Wentzville teen class graduates from CERT

Youth learn disaster response skills

Sunday, July 27, 2008 7:25 AM CDT

There's no age limit when it comes to emergency responders.

The Wentzville Fire Protection District and Wentzville Police Department, sponsors of the Adult and Teen Community Emergency Response Teams, graduated six members in May from their first Teen CERT class.

The 20-hour Teen CERT program offers training to youth ages 13 to 18. The training teaches first aid procedures, search and rescue procedures, mental health aspects in dealing with disasters, fire suppression and organizational procedures. Two-hour classes were held twice a week at the Wentzville Law Enforcement Center, 1019 Schroeder Creek Blvd. Representatives from the fire district, police department and the Crider Center for Mental Health taught the classes.

Prior to the graduation, the teens spent three hours at Rotary Park, where they practiced their new skills in simulated exercises. Parents of the teens acted as victims of a disaster during a search and rescue simulation, the teens also conducted a simulation search of the area for a missing child. Upon finding the child, they administered the required first aid, stabilized and transported the victim for further assessment.

Program officials say the teens will be a great asset to an already successful CERT program, and that emergency responders can count on them when resources become depleted because of large-scale events.

The next Wentzville sponsored CERT and Teen CERT classes are to start in early September. To sign up or for more information, e-mail officer Phil Yocum at phily@wentzvillemo.org or call him at 636-639-2131.

Crestwood receives equipment to help train residents

Homeland Security money used for citizen response teams

By Steve Birmingham
Saturday, July 19, 2008 9:56 AM CDT

Crestwood citizens trained to help their neighbors during a catastrophic emergency will have a place to store the tools of their trade.

Thanks to the city of Crestwood and the St. Louis Area Regional Response System, or STARRS.

STARRS, an effort of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, uses federal grants to help local governments plan for, protect against and recover from natural or man-made crises.

The agreement to accept the donation from STARRS of 55 backpacks, valued at $50 each, means residents trained as Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, members will be able to carry first-aid kits, tools, safety equipment and other items if they ever have to respond in times of emergencies, said Crestwood Deputy Police Chief Frank Arnoldy.

Arnoldy, who is part of the city's CERT training staff, said "if we didn't have this agreement with STARRS to get these backpacks we'd have to decide whether we would fund it or not."

"What we do is fund, through Homeland Security grants, various resources, whether it's in the fire department, police department, public health or hospitals, that could be needed when a disaster occurs," said STARRS Executive Director Dominic "Nick" Gragnani.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides the money to the St. Louis metropolitan region and STARRS directs it to different initiatives and groups that are underway to help mitigate a disaster or get prepared for one when it does occur, Gragnani said.

One of those initiatives is the Citizen Corps, which "is similar to the Peace Corps, although at the local level they help citizenry get ready for when something major does occur," Grignani said.

"Within the Citizen Corps are different component. One of them being the Community Emergency Response Team concept," he said. "CERT helps prepare neighborhoods to deal with the disaster on their own until the emergency response is there to assist them."

The Citizen Corps trains neighborhood watch groups, clubs and other smaller groups to perform damage assessments, light searches and rescues, fire suppression and general first aid, Grignani said.

The city's agreement with STARRS allows the group to bring the residents a deeper understanding of what it takes to deal with disasters and the aftermath.

"I kind of refer to it as the Godfather agreement, where we're willing to do this for you, with the understanding that come someday that need is going to be there and you will respond to the citizens of Crestwood," he said.

Crestwood's CERT program teaches volunteers, after a 20-hour training course by the city's police and fire department, "to care for themselves and their neighbors if we have a major event or incident," Arnoldy said.

The specially made backpacks will hold, among other items, a mask, hard hat, work gloves, safety goggles, whistle and lanyard, orange CERT safety vest, flashlight, four-in-one spark-proof tool for shutting off utility lines and appliances, an adjustable wrench, duct tape, blanket, tarpaulin, utility knife, ear plugs, first aid kit and triage equipment.

Arnoldy said in times of catastrophic emergencies people have to be prepared to possibly fend for themselves for at least 96 hours without outside help.

"We're always looking for more people to get involved so they can be trained to take care of themselves and their families and neighborhood," Arnoldy said. "During an earthquake or weather-related things like tornadoes and ice storms, even electrical outages, during all those things you need to have supplies set aside and know how to take care of yourself and others until help arrives."

There are approximately 100 CERT-trained residents in Crestwood, Arnoldy said, and about 3,000 in the entire St. Louis metropolitan area.

There is a CERT training session already in progress in Crestwood but there is a waiting list for future classes.

Interested residents can contact Assistant Fire Chief Mark Menning at (314) 729-4741, or at www.metrowestcert.com.

Emergency helpers

Maryville to form amateur response team

By Mike Terry
Thursday, July 10, 2008 8:57 AM CDT

The Maryville Community Improvement Board is currently on the lookout for volunteers interested in joining a response team that would assist emergency services if a major disaster ever hit the village.

The new Community Emergency Response Team will be open to anyone over 14 and will hold its first training session on July 17.

"We did some research," said team organizer Dan Wright, who is also a member of the improvement board. "With the storms we have had and the recent earthquake, we thought it would be a good idea."

In a community like Maryville, which utilizes an all-volunteer fire department and operates with a limited number of police officers, Wright said that emergency officials can find themselves with their hands full very quickly.

Members of the CERT team will be trained in basic first aid, search and rescue, evaluating a disaster scene and how to survive without help for a period of at least 72 hours. By having CERT members taking care of the small matters, the professionals will have more ability to handle more serious situations.

"Nobody (on the CERT team) will be doing advanced medical procedures," he said. "But we can help by checking on people."

Once organized, Wright expects the team will operate through a phone tree with a centralized meeting point somewhere in Maryville. In the instance of something like a widespread power outage or a major storm, members would be dispatched to check area neighborhoods, senior living centers and other parts of the village to make sure everyone is all right.

Training will be handled by members of Collinsville's Emergency Response Team.

No experience will be necessary to join, although teenagers under 18 will need to obtain permission from their parents. Wright said they would be able to find a place for anyone, regardless of their age or physical capabilities, and nobody would be asked to do something they couldn't handle.

"We will only put people where they are comfortable," he said. "It's only as strenuous as you would make it."

Materials and training will be provided at no cost. Wright said they would like to have around 25 on the team and have already been spreading the word with fliers. Those interested should contact him or his wife Courtney at 205-3204.

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.

Playing pretend is serious business

Emergency responders participate in crisis simulation at Jamestown Mall

By Scott Bandle
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 3:23 PM CDT

About 12 people ran out the door when the fire truck arrived, sirens blaring.

"Help! The second and third floors have collapsed!" they shouted, pointing to the empty store at Jamestown Mall. "People are injured!"

And so began a training exercise to give North County's emergency personnel a chance to practice how they would respond to a mass casualty incident. Seven North County fire departments and districts, Christian Hospital and the St. Louis County Police took part in the drill Thursday in the vacant Dillard's store at Jamestown Mall.The drill was for firefighters, police officers and paramedics to test their abilities to communicate and work within the National Incident Management System. The system, mandated by President George W. Bush, was established after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"We wanted to really test the firefighters," Black Jack Battalion Chief Dennis Hohl said. "Rather than have just a tornado or a fire, we're calling it an 'isolated collapse of unknown origin.' It covers everything.

"Volunteers acted as the victims, complete with makeup, fake blood, and screams and moans. Some pretended to be severely injured, while others walked around acting disoriented. Fake smoke cast a white haze throughout the building.

Cathy Dahmer, 69, of Ferguson, pretended to be trapped on the floor under a pile of rubble, with a broken leg and cuts and bruises on her face. A small dummy nearby was her injured "grandson." Dahmer, a member of the Ferguson Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), patiently waited for firefighters to reach her.

"The drill is a good thing," Dahmer said. "It makes me want to go home and refresh my memory from the (CERT) textbook about what to do in this kind of situation.

"Her husband Ollie Dahmer, 70, said while it was fun, it was serious business. He participated last year, and firefighters couldn't find him in the smoke.

"They couldn't locate me," he said. "We're all kind of joking around, but these kind of drills are important.

"North Technical High School sent a group of students to volunteer for the drill. Florissant resident Thomas Bradley, 18, took law-enforcement classes at the school.

However, he also had another skill to help him on Thursday. "I've taken acting lessons," he said.

The "victims" had different kinds of injuries. James Kartmann, 70, of Ferguson, was rolled up in electric wiring, writhing in pretend agony as an electrocution victim. With the help of makeup, Overland resident Victoria Phillips, 17, appeared to have a fracture and a gash on her leg.

One by one, firefighters and emergency medical service teams tracked down the victims and treated them.

The fire departments will analyze and discuss the results of the drill, said Spanish Lake Deputy Chief Michael Flavin.

"We'll look at what we did, how much time it took," Flavin said. "We'll discuss ways to improve our responses.

"Meanwhile, Jamestown Mall officials were happy to lend the vacant Dillard's store for the simulation, said Marketing Director and Leasing Manager Dennis Kassel.

"We're pleased we could help the community," he said. "We have a good relationship with the Black Jack Fire District.

"One volunteer did pay homage to the store's history.

"Maybe one of the injuries could be from a shopping stampede," Kartmann said.

Emergency preparedness training planned in St. Peters

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 8:39 AM CDT

The city of St. Peters and Central County Fire and Rescue are inviting residents to join the Citizens Emergency Response Team.

The fire district is accepting applications for its next CERT training course scheduled for May 10, 17 and 20 at Wesleyan Church, 250 Salt Lick Road in St. Peters.

Participants will receive training about the following topics: disaster preparedness, fire safety/suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology and a hands-on disaster exercise.

Trainees will be issued emergency preparedness equipment and a student manual. There is a $25 registration charge, and all equipment and materials will be provided.

For more information contact Assistant Fire Chief Steve Brown at 636-970-9700, ext. 403.

Adopt-A-Highway: St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council adopts Highway 70 at Bryan Road

In April, just prior to the No MOre Trash! Bash 2008, the St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council adopted a one-mile stretch of Interstate 70 east and west of Bryan Road. Several volunteers collected more than 47 of the over 84,000 bags of litter from Missouri's roadways, streams and other public areas.

The purpose of the Adopt-A-Highway program is to provide community support for litter prevention and highway beautification efforts.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining about 385,000 acres of right of way. Much of this consists of the roadsides along the highway. Because of this large task, MoDOT started the Adopt-A-Highway program in the fall of 1987. The program allows the public to become personally involved in improving our environment and helping to keep Missouri's roadsides beautiful.

The adopted portion of Highway 70 extends 1/2 mile east and west of the Bryan Road overpass on both sides of the interstate.