Monday, September 30, 2013

How Volunteers Help During An Emergency Using CERT Products

By Eric Holm


In the event there is an emergency crisis situation or disaster, those volunteers trained as C. E. R. T. Response teams are usually out in full force assisting the fire, medical, and police responses teams. These are volunteers that have received special training and CERT products for giving a helping hand during these kinds of situations.

When a community has a huge disaster or emergency situation that requires a lot of manpower, the police, medical, and fire responses teams are sometimes overworked. Some disasters may be large enough to make need for more people out and about to help people in dire need or in emergency circumstances. Trained C. E. R. T. Personnel can aid many of these people and sustain them until emergency workers arrive to take over. These trained volunteers are urged by government services to get involved in activities like evacuations and other emergency operations related to their community.

C.E.R.T. (Certified Emergency Response Teams) Training is actually available to anyone who is at least eighteen years old. Individuals who are less than 18 years old need approval from their parents before they can participate in this program. The basic skills that you will learn from C.E.R.T include search and rescue, fire safety, organization of teams, first aid, threat assessment and disaster preparedness in your home, community and even in your office. More often than not, C.E.R.T. volunteers are first to respond to disasters, especially in areas that are not very accessible to other rescue units.

Aside from emergency related activities, volunteers of C.E.R.T. (Certified Emergency Response Teams) are also encouraged to help disseminate information about disaster safety and preparedness, to assist elderly with their preparation for emergency situations (such as changing the battery of smoke alarms), and even participate in special local or national events that deal with rescue and safety.

Once you are certified, you will be provided with C. E. R. T. Kit that will allow you to be better prepared for certain aspects of an emergency or disaster situation. Your kit may contain supplies for administering first aid, water pouches, light sticks, and other items that could help out in a serious situation. Keep in mind your supplies are for helping others to survive in a difficult circumstance. Make sure to keep fresh batteries in the flashlight you have in your kit. You might also have whistles and a bullhorn for notifying members of responses teams upon their arrival. Volunteers will also be given vests, t-shirts and other identifying types of clothing for being distinguished among a group of people.




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