CERT: Community Emergency Response Team

CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. CERT is a program that can be found in many big cities. CERT is a way to get involved in your community. CERT also trains its members to be the leaders when a disaster strikes. During CERT training hours, you go through how to properly care for an injured person, CPR, and other medical occurences.

The Goal of CERT

The goal of CERT is to train individuals to step up and be leaders in their community during a medical disaster such as terrorism or wildfires, or weather disasters such as tornadoes, floods, winter storms, or severe thunderstorms. For example, if there was an earthquake, CERT members would be called to their staging area for what they will do. CERT members will likely be the ones walking the streets and checking on every individual and for any injuries. In this hub, there are correct ways to practice safety during and after the situation. I love being a member of CERT.

Some CERT Procedures

Triage Procedures

Triage is organizing injuries people or parties according to their condition. Traige Procedures take place after the disaster has occured. They will likely be set up at a church, school, or large structure. The procedure follows:

When an injuried person arrives, mark them with the following according to the seriousness of the injury:

'M', green, = Minor Injury

'I', red, = Immediate Injury

'D', yellow, = Delayed Injury

'DEAD', black.

Treat 'I', red victims FIRST!

Using a Fire Extinguisher

In determining whether or whether not to use a fire extinguisher, ask youself these questions: Can I escape quickly and safely from the area if I attempt to extinguish the fire? Do I have the right type of extinguisher? Is the extinguisher large enough for the fire? Is the area free from other dangers such as hazardous materials and falling debris? If you answer yes to all these questions, then EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. If you answered no, GET OUT OF THERE!

Steps to follow when using extinguisher: P.A.S.S.

P - PULL. Pull the plug on the top of the extinguisher.

A - AIM. Aim the nozzle of the extinguisher at the fire.

S - SQUEEZE. Squeeze the handle on the top by the plug.

S - SWEEP. Sweep the nozzle and aim at the base of the fire.

If you follow these steps correctly, you should put the fire out and take control of the situation.

Safety

The following are some ways to keep you, your family, and your friends safe during rough situations or disasters.

Earthquakes

To stay safe during an earthquake, you should:

1. Drop, cover, and hold.

2. In you are indoors, stay there.

3. If outdoors, find a spot away from buildings, trees, street lights, powerlines, and overpasses.

4. In in a vehicle, pull over at a clear location and STOP.

After you have taken care of yourself, now take care of others.

1. Look for and extinguish small fires.

2. Clean up spills.

3. Inspect the home for damage.

4. Help your neighbors!

5. Listen to the radio.

6. Expect more aftershocks.

Floods

1. Do NOT walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters!

2. Stay off bridges over fast-moving waters

3. Keep away from waterways.

4. Heed barricades.

5. Aviod storm drains and irrigation ditches.

Excessive Heat

If you are experiencing any of these:

Heat cramps

Heat exhaustion

Heat/Sun stroke

then, seek a hospital and get checked out.

Tornadoes

Following a tornado, you need to continue (or start) to listen to the radio or watch the TV for updated information. Here are some post-tornado actions:

1. Avoid fallen power lines.

2. Stay out of damaged areas until you are told you can go into the area.

3. Stay out of damaged buildings, as they might collapse.

4. Use a flashlight in dark places.

5. Turn on your utilities.

Thanks for reading! And remember, safety is first!

JohnB0127

My website: www.NorthTexasLuxury.com
Twitter: @JIBurg4