CERT course teaches neighbors to take charge during emergencies
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| CERT students set up a triage system to care for the wounded. |
Local residents bleeding heavily and screaming in pain were lying on
the floor of the Moose Lodge in Bailey’s Crossroads Saturday morning following
a severe tornado. One woman lost three fingers, another victim had a leg
sheared off, while others suffered broken bones and head wounds. Their neighbors
took care of their immediate needs while waiting for ambulances to arrive.
the floor of the Moose Lodge in Bailey’s Crossroads Saturday morning following
a severe tornado. One woman lost three fingers, another victim had a leg
sheared off, while others suffered broken bones and head wounds. Their neighbors
took care of their immediate needs while waiting for ambulances to arrive.
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| An “accident victim” lost some fingers. |
Relax, this was just a practice exercise. It was the final
day of an eight-week Fairfax County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
course, where local residents learned about basic first aid, search and rescue
techniques, and command and control procedures for
responding to a disaster, such as a hurricane, tornado, snowstorm, earthquake, terrorism,
or active shooter.
day of an eight-week Fairfax County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
course, where local residents learned about basic first aid, search and rescue
techniques, and command and control procedures for
responding to a disaster, such as a hurricane, tornado, snowstorm, earthquake, terrorism,
or active shooter.
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| Ouch! |
The CERT students’
first task was to search the grounds to find
injured people and bring them inside the Moose Lodge. For victims unable to
walk, they used pieces of cardboard, tarps, chairs or whatever they could find as
makeshift stretchers.
first task was to search the grounds to find
injured people and bring them inside the Moose Lodge. For victims unable to
walk, they used pieces of cardboard, tarps, chairs or whatever they could find as
makeshift stretchers.
They then had to assess the victims – done up with makeup
mimicking realistic, bloody wounds – to determine if they had life-threatening injuries,
such as trouble breathing, bleeding profusely, or in shock, said CERT
instructor Gary Nisker, the volunteer coordinator of CERT training in Fairfax
County who also serves as the point person for CERT in the 22003 zip code.
mimicking realistic, bloody wounds – to determine if they had life-threatening injuries,
such as trouble breathing, bleeding profusely, or in shock, said CERT
instructor Gary Nisker, the volunteer coordinator of CERT training in Fairfax
County who also serves as the point person for CERT in the 22003 zip code.
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| CERT members attend to a car crash victim. |
Under the triage system they set up, victims were labeled
with duct tape indicating the severity of their condition. People in the worst
shape were laid out on red tarps, those with less serious injuries, such as
broken bones, were placed on yellow tarps. People in good shape were put on
green tarps, while the deceased were put out of the way on black tarps.
with duct tape indicating the severity of their condition. People in the worst
shape were laid out on red tarps, those with less serious injuries, such as
broken bones, were placed on yellow tarps. People in good shape were put on
green tarps, while the deceased were put out of the way on black tarps.
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| Team members carry the victim inside. |
The 21 people in the CERT class were mostly from Annandale
and Bailey’s Crossroads, said Nisker, a former Army pilot who retired from the military in
2014. Since then, he’s led about three dozen CERT classes – training 79 people –
in the Annandale area.
and Bailey’s Crossroads, said Nisker, a former Army pilot who retired from the military in
2014. Since then, he’s led about three dozen CERT classes – training 79 people –
in the Annandale area.
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| This guy will live. |
The CERT program is free. Class participants are given
backpacks with emergency supplies, including a hardhat with a light and an M95
face mask. Fairfax County received used a grant from FEMA to pay for the equipment
and develop the course, but the bulk of the program is carried out by
volunteers.
backpacks with emergency supplies, including a hardhat with a light and an M95
face mask. Fairfax County received used a grant from FEMA to pay for the equipment
and develop the course, but the bulk of the program is carried out by
volunteers.
People who complete a CERT course can organize or join a
disaster team for their community. Teams establish a rally point for people to
gather during an emergency and set up a medical area and logistics area. According to Nisker, about
450 people in Fairfax County are part of a disaster team or are interested in
starting one.
disaster team for their community. Teams establish a rally point for people to
gather during an emergency and set up a medical area and logistics area. According to Nisker, about
450 people in Fairfax County are part of a disaster team or are interested in
starting one.
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| The command center directs rescue operations. |
Nisker, the leader of a CERT team in his community,
Annandale Acres, has overseen efforts to organize a recovery effort when a
storm knocked out trees about six months ago and helped neighbors dig out fire
hydrants during the most recent blizzard. “It’s all about neighbors helping
neighbors,” he said.
Annandale Acres, has overseen efforts to organize a recovery effort when a
storm knocked out trees about six months ago and helped neighbors dig out fire
hydrants during the most recent blizzard. “It’s all about neighbors helping
neighbors,” he said.
Beyond the basic CERT course, there are opportunities for
additional training, in such specialties as animal and pet rescue, advanced
first aid, tourniquets, CPR and AEDs (automatic external defibrillators), rescuing
people with hearing impairments, and working with the Centers for Disease
Control during an epidemic. A Spanish-language CERT class is being developed.
additional training, in such specialties as animal and pet rescue, advanced
first aid, tourniquets, CPR and AEDs (automatic external defibrillators), rescuing
people with hearing impairments, and working with the Centers for Disease
Control during an epidemic. A Spanish-language CERT class is being developed.
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| People with the most serious injuries are placed on a red tarp |
CERT training is important, Nisker said, because when
there’s a major disaster, “for the first 72 hours, you’re on your own,” as it
could take that long for the fire department and police to show up. And when it
comes to disasters, “it’s not if, but when.”
there’s a major disaster, “for the first 72 hours, you’re on your own,” as it
could take that long for the fire department and police to show up. And when it
comes to disasters, “it’s not if, but when.”
If you’re interested in taking a CERT course, contact Gary
Nisker, [email protected].
Nisker, [email protected].