Promoting CERT to First Responders

Samantha RoysterNC CERT Program Manager

A Brief History of CERT

• Started in 1985 by LAFD, who realized how quickly they could be overwhelmed in a large-scale disaster (esp. earthquakes)

• Curriculum adopted by FEMA in 1993• Became part of President Bush’s

Volunteer Corps in 2002• Currently >2600 teams in every U.S.

state, five U.S. territories and six foreign countries

CERT in NC

75 teams in 46 counties

CERT Basic Training

• Nine units• 21 hours of classroom

and hands-on training• Culminating in a

full-scale exercise

Unit One – Disaster Preparedness

• Identify roles and responsibilities for individuals, community leaders, government officials

• Describe types of hazards that affect community, people, health, and infrastructure

• Undertake personal and organizational preparedness actions

• Learn function of CERT in disasters

Unit Two – Fire Safety & Utility Controls

• The role of CERTs in fire safety• Identify and reduce potential fire and utility

risks• Describe CERT sizeup

process• Explain basic safety

precautions• Identify hazardous

materials• Extinguish small fires

Unit Three – Disaster Preparedness, Part I

• Identify the “three killers”• Apply techniques for opening

airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock

• Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions

Unit Four – Disaster Preparedness, Part II

• Take appropriate sanitation measures to help protect public health

• Perform head-to-toe patient assessments

• Establish a treatment area• Apply splints to suspected

fractures and sprains and employ basic treatments for other injuries

Unit Five – Light Search and Rescue• Identify sizeup

requirements for potential search-and-rescue situations

• Describe the most common techniques for searching, both interior and exterior

• Use of safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication

• Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue

Unit Six – CERT Organization

• Describe the CERT structure• Identify how CERTs interrelate with

the Incident Command System (ICS)• Explain documentation requirements

Unit Seven – Disaster Psychology

• Describe the disaster and post-disaster emotional environment for victims and rescuers

• Describe the steps that rescuers can take to relieve their own stress and that of other disaster survivors

Unit Eight – Terrorism and CERT

• Define terrorism• Identify potential targets in the

community• Identify the eight signs of terrorism• Identify CERT operating procedures

for a terrorist incident• Describe the actions to take following

a suspected terrorist incident

Unit Nine – Review and Final Exercise

• Apply the skills and knowledge learned throughout the course to a simulated disaster situation (full-scale exercise)

Why is CERT Needed?

What Does CERT Do?• Before, During and After a Disaster:

– Educate the public on preparedness– Assist with evacuations– Shut off utilities– Volunteer in EOC– Staff shelters– Stand up PODs– Sandbags– Damage assessments– Emergency communications– Treatment areas– Firefighter rehab

Non-Disaster Roles• Identify and aid neighbors/

coworkers who might need assistance

• Distribute preparedness materials; do demos

• Staff first aid booths at special events

• Assist with installation of smoke alarms

• Parade route management• Paint fire hydrants• Roll fire hoses• USE YOUR IMAGINATION

How Does CERT Benefit the Community?

• Participants have a better understanding of local hazards

• In case of a disaster, CERT members can apply training to provide critical support until help arrives

• When help does arrive, CERT members can brief responders on the situation

Community Relations• As CERT members and First Responders train

together, they learn more about each other, which fosters good relationships.

• CERT members learn more about what is involved with keeping a community safe through police, fire, EMS and emergency management.

• First Responders get to know residents of their community – what talents individuals have, and who they can count on in a crisis.

Community Relations

“Involvement with a community that understands the services and complexities of emergency preparedness and emergency assistance can’t be under-valued. Having a group of citizens willing to donate their time and efforts strengthens the fire department and is a tremendous benefit.”

Keith McGeeFire Chief, Apex

Do the Number$• Having a “resilient community” can

lower Insurance Service Office (ISO) ratings, which results in lower insurance premium rates.

• When communities track their volunteer hours, it is easy to put a monetary value on that time. – Volunteers are valued at $18.50/hour, so

a town whose volunteers put in 1,200 hours in a year (Apex, NC) gains a value of $22,200

Community Resilience“Every home, street and neighborhood with someone who is prepared helps us do our job better.” 

Ed MooreAssistant Chief,, Training & Safety, Cary Fire Dept.(far right)

What About Liability?

• CERT members generally protected by:– “Good Samaritan”

laws– Volunteer Protection

Act of 1997– N.C.G.S. 130A-2– N.C.G.S. §90-21.14

NC Good Samaritan Laws(a)        Any person, including a volunteer medical or health care provider at a facility of a local health department as defined in G.S. 130A-2 or at a nonprofit community health center or a volunteer member of a rescue squad, who receives no compensation for his services as an emergency medical care provider, who renders first aid or emergency health care treatment to a person who is unconscious, ill or injured,

(1)        When the reasonably apparent circumstances require prompt decisions and actions in medical or other health care, and(2)        When the necessity of immediate health care treatment is so reasonably apparent that any delay in the rendering of the treatment would seriously worsen the physical condition or endanger the life of the person, shall not be liable for damages for injuries alleged to have been sustained by the person or for damages for the death of the person alleged to have occurred by reason of an act or omission in the rendering of the treatment unless it is established that the injuries were or the death was caused by gross negligence, wanton conduct or intentional wrongdoing on the part of the person rendering the treatment. The immunity conferred in this section also applies to any person who uses an automated external defibrillator (AED) and otherwise meets the requirements of this section.

And Worker’s Comp?According to the NC Emergency Management Act of 1977, anyone working (paid or volunteer) at the request of the State Government or “any political subdivision thereof” shall have the same “powers, duties, immunities and privileges” the person would normally possess in performing those duties.

Confidence in the ProgramCERT programs must be affiliated with or sponsored by a local government agency, and engage in operational activities only under the command and control of that agency. Thus, CERT programs do not operate without the confidence of professional emergency response agencies, and those agencies are more likely to have confidence in a CERT program that takes steps to manage risk.

Positive Public Image

CERT programs that successfully manage risk have a more positive public image, which enhances their ability to build relationships with other organizations, and obtain resources and funding. A reputation for safety in a CERT program’s own operations also enhances the credibility of its emergency preparedness outreach efforts.

Increased ParticipationIndividuals who see the value of being prepared themselves as well as the added benefit of giving back to the community will be even more willing to be part of a strong CERT when safety is paramount in everything the group does.

Managing Risk

1. Get leadership support2. Identify and assess risk3. Adopt strategies to manage

risk4. Maintain the momentum

Also known as…

MITIGATION

Recommended Volunteer Requirements

• Proof of health insurance• Current tetanus vaccine status• Basic Training Class• ICS 100, 200, 700• Sign a waiver releasing the

sponsoring agency from liability

In Summary• CERT can be a tremendous asset to any

community• Helps to build positive relationships

between first responders and residents• CERTs are covered by Good Samaritan

Laws• If unable to cover Worker’s Comp,

practice risk management – can also require volunteers to have health insurance and to sign liability waivers

Contact Info919-825-2288

samantha.royster@ncdps.gov

http://nccert.wix.com/nccert

https://www.facebook.com/pages/NC-Community-Emergency-Response-Team-CERT

https://twitter.com/ncemcert