CERT training
March 17th, 2008 by 
Alica
Brandon’s public safety committee is looking for volunteers for a new Community Emergency Response Team. The team will consist of average residents who will receive some emergency training. Then, if there is a flood, or a lost child, or some other emergency, these trained citizens can help the professional response groups.
Sioux Falls, Brookings and Parker already have CERT groups, and Brandon recently got a $2,300 grant to start one. The safety committee will be signing up volunteers at the Brandon Valley Community Health Fair at the high school on March 25.
Have you ever been on a CERT team? If so, where? How was your experience on it?
Are you interested in becoming a CERT volunteer? Why or why not?
Do you think this is a good thing for Brandon? It seems like whenever there’s an emergency, it’s good to have people around to help. However, if too many people show up to help for, say, a house fire, they can get in the way. What other benefits, or drawbacks, can you think of for Brandon having a CERT team?
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March 17th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
It’s not the objective of CERT to respond to day to day emergencies such as house fires. It is used for disaster situations. (widespread, such as tornado, chemical spill etc.)
I can only hope that if my house starts on fire that the police, fire department, ems and all the CERT members DON”T ALL show up.
March 17th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
It has been my experience that if one is called…they ALL show up, kinda like a block party. My brother-in-law is a volunteer fireman, and his view is that if you can find something not so bad on the other end, it is worth getting in the truck. They all wish for the not so bad…
March 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
The benefits of a CERT team…someone to hold the hand of the missing child’s mother, to be a laison, to keep the children of the burning house busy…all kinds of positives can come from this. Is there still an active Civil Air Patrol in this area…?
March 17th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
For this to be done in the professional manner it was intended, I hope they use this just for disasters of large proportions.
I don’t think we need droves of people showing up just to “see what’s going on”
March 18th, 2008 at 9:39 am
CERT was designed to teach people in the community what to do in case of a mass disaster when the normal emergency resources are unable to be in all places, all at once. What you will learn is to 1. How to care for yourself and your family until professional emergency services arrive. 2. Help care for your neighbors. 3. Be a trained extra pair of hands if something should happen in this or another community (tornado hits Canton for example) What Emergency Professionals have found is that, when a disaster happens in a community, everyone wants to pitch in and help, and most of the time, that works out fine, but there are times when an untrained “helper” enters a situation that is simply too dangerous and they become a victim as well, and now, instead of having to rescue one victim, the professionals now have two victims. CERT teaches when and how to help. CERT does not self activate, so if a house is burning down, they will not be on the scene. If there is a major fire, they will only be on the scene if the Fire Chief requests them and they only function in their limited capacity. (CERT members will not put on a fire jacket and fight the blaze!) CERT may help make sure that hydrants are not being blocked or keep cool water on hand for the firefighters to drink. (these are just random examples) If there is a search for a lost child, the CERT team does not activate until the Police Chief makes the request. If a tornado goes through a neighboring community, Emergency Management makes the call for assistance. If there is a major disaster in Brandon, CERT volunteers again, secure themselves, their family, then their neighbors. The whole idea is to ease the burden for the Professionals by securing yourself, not becoming a victim by trying to help when you shouldn’t, and to provide assistance when asked. It is a very defined program and I invite all interested to come to our booth at the Health Fair! You can also call City Hall or talk with any of the Safety Committee to obtain more info. We’d love to tell you all about CERT. If you cannot attend the Fair, check out the CERT website at https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/
It is full of great information. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the program. We hope you will check it out!
March 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Shari, This is great information. Thank you a lot for letting us know more about CERT.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Thanks, Shari, for the great info & insight…
March 18th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
My pleasure!!
March 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Shari,
Thank you! What a wonderful, well-informed way to explain CERT, a volunteer group of true heroes! Community members can also dial 211 or visit www.helplinecenter.org to find out how to volunteer through CERT or at 130 other non-profits in the Sioux Empire any time. Thanks Shari! Truly Awesome!