Safety in the Post Disaster Environment
What is
Red Vest - Green Vest?
We all live life in "Blue Sky" but occasionally find ourselves living in "Gray Sky". Now, let me explain... by Blue sky, I mean a life where things are "Normal" operating procedures. By Gray sky, I mean life's hit "Turmoil" status. Once one is CERT certified, it seems the only time we "use" the skills we've been taught is during "Gray Sky" events, disasters, etc. One might not realize that in terms of "Gray Sky" these events happen all too often, but just not on a Grand scale.
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When people here the name CERT and think Community Emergency Response Team, what picture comes to mind? When I hear the word “team” I picture words like club, group, and organization. Well established CERT teams can be just that. However, the vast majority of CERT teams are not teams at all. CERT is a class that teaches a particular skill set used during an emergency or disaster in order to increase the safety of the rescuer, as well as the victim, and provide a basic framework for the understanding of the Incident Command System (ICS). The word team is at its roots because CERT use the buddy system and work in pairs at the very least.
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So this leads to understanding what peoples motivations are. Why are they taking CERT in the first place? Is it for personal knowledge? Is it because they were encouraged to by local clergy? Or are they looking for an opportunity to belong to an organization?
One of the primary drivers I have seen in this area is that people take CERT to become more self-reliant and plan on helping in their own neighborhood should there be a need. This idea of self-reliance always seems to expound into the idea that neighborhoods will plan on using their neighborhood congregational buildings for medical treatment areas for the wounded, staging areas for teams and equipment, a command center for leadership, an information center, and shelter to house those affected whose homes have been damaged.
That is a lot of things happening in one place.
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CERT is a response that occurs with LIGHT search, rescue, triage, basic medical treatment, and basic disaster assessment. How often do CERTs get to use those skills outside of a training scenario?
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How would the Red Cross enhance the CERTs skills
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More advance first aid
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Shelter training (not just at churches but wherever the community needs it)
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Disaster assessment
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Greater integration with police, fire and ems
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Community Safety—Home Fire Campaign, Pillow Case Project, and Sound the Alarm
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Constant opportunities to respond locally with DAT
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Deploy nationally and bring back disaster experience to community.
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Rehabilitation teams for aiding first responders
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ERV
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To volunteer with American Red Cross:
