Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.

One also expects that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other.

If we can predict that emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is no warning as in an tornado, and people will spontaneously volunteer, what can government do to prepare citizens for this eventuality?

FIRST, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. SECOND, give the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. THIRD, train them in needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. FOURTH, organize teams so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. FEMA provides grants to governmental units to provide CERT training based upon a prescribed training program. See the FEMA website for more information.  www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/CERT/

The CERT training for community groups is usually delivered in 2 1/2 hour sessions, one evening a week over a 7 week period. The training consists of the following:

·    Session I, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in our community, i.e. toxic spills, hurricanes, tornados, aircraft accidents, and propane explosions.

 ·    Session II, DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION: Briefly covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards, and fire suppression strategies.

 ·    Session III, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding, and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.

·    Session IV, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area, performing basic first aid, and practicing in a safe and sanitary manner.

·    Session V, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS: Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important, rescuer safety.

·    Session VI, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM ORGANIZATION: Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker.

·    Session VII, COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION: Participants practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in disaster activity.

CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.

Your Ashton Glenn CERT

Ashton Glenn residents completed the 20 hour training program in May. The training was conducted by Georgetown County staff including Helen Ford and the Midway Fire Department staff.

Your Ashton Glenn trained CERT members are:

 Chris Artuz

 Bud Sylvester

 Tony Preston

 Frank Smith

 The team will remain involved and practice learned skills by conducting drills, educating our community in fire safety, home evacuation preparedness, and obtaining CPR and First aid training as desired.The team welcomes those residents who are interested in participating in future CERT training. Contact any team member for further information. More information can be found on the Ashton Glenn HOA website http://www.ashtonglennhoa.com