C.E.R.T

Course Review

Preparedness

Preplanning Steps • Assemble Disaster Kit

• food & water (1 gallon / person / day)• Non-food supplies

• Locate Utility Shutoffs• Develop an escape Plan• Buy Fire Extinguisher• Secure water heater, appliances, heavy

furniture• Have cash on-hand

Fire Subjects

Unit Objectives• Explain the role of CERTs in fire safety.• Identify and reduce potential fire risks in the

home and workplace.• Conduct a basic sizeup for a fire emergency.• Understand basic safety precautions.• Identify hazardous materials in the home and

community.• Extinguish small fires using a fire extinguisher.

The Fire Triangle

• Heat

• Fuel

• Oxygen

Fire Chemistry

Classes of fire:

• A: Ordinary combustibles

• B: Flammable and combustible liquids

• C: Energized electrical equipment

• D: Combustible metals

Reducing Fire Hazards in Home and Workplace

• Read labels.

• Use L.I.E.S. storage procedures (Limit, Isolate, Eliminate, Separate).

CERT sizeupAnswer these questions:

• Can my buddy and I fight the fire safely?

• Do we have the right equipment?

• Are there other hazards?

• Is the building structurally damaged?

• Can we escape?

CERT Sizeup1. Gather Facts.2. Assess Damage.3. Consider Probabilities.4. Assess Your Situation.5. Establish Priorities.6. Make Decisions.7. Develop Plans of Action .8. Take Action.9. Evaluate Progress.

Firefighting Resources

Resources available:

• Portable fire extinguishers

• Wet standpipes

• Confinement

• “Creative” resources

P.A.S.S

• Pull

• Aim

• Squeeze

• Sweep

Test the extinguisher before approaching any fire.

Fire Suppression Safety

Do:

• Use safety equipment.

• Work in a buddy system.

• Have a backup team.

• Have two ways to exit.

• Maintain a safe distance.

• Overhaul the fire.

Fire Suppression Safety

DON’T

• Try to suppress large fires.

• Get too close.

• Fight it alone.

• Enter smoke-filled areas.

Hazardous Materials . . .

• Corrode other materials

• Explode or are easily ignited

• React strongly with water

• Are unstable when exposed to heat or shock

• Are toxic to humans, animals, or the environment

Identifying Stored Hazardous Materials

Red – Flammable

Blue – Health

Yellow- Reactive

White – Add’l Info

Search and Rescue Operations

• Sizeup

• Search involves:

• Locating victims.

• Documenting location.

• Rescue involves procedures and methods to extricate victims

Decision To Attempt Rescue

• Risk involved to the rescuer

• Greatest good for greatest number of people

Goals of Search and Rescue

• Rescue greatest number in shortest amount of time

• Rescue lightly trapped victims first

Effective Search and Rescue

• Effective sizeup

• Rescuer safety

• Victims safety

CERT Search and Rescue Sizeup

1. Gather Facts2. Assess Damage3. Consider Probabilities4. Assess Your Situation5. Establish Priorities6. Make Decisions7. Develop Plans of Action8. Take Action9. Evaluate Progress

Step 1: Gather FactsConsider the:• Time of event and day of week.• Type of structure.• Construction type.• Weather.• Hazards.

Gather facts accurately.

Step 2: Assess and Communicate Damage

CERT mission changes if:

• Damage is light.

• Damage is moderate.

• Damage is heavy.

Consider structure type and age.

Never enter a structure with heavy damage!

Search and Rescue

Slight Damage

Search and Rescue

Moderate Damage

Search and Rescue

Heavy Damage

Search and Rescue sizeup

• Personnel

• Tools

• Equipment

Safety Considerations

• Make rescuer safety your primary concern.• Use a buddy system.• Be alert for hazards.• Use safety equipment.• Rotate teams.

Teamwork=Success

Safety Considerations

Wear Personal Protective Equipment

• Hardhat

• Eye Protection

• Work Gloves

Effective Search Methodology

• Indicates rescuer location

• Prevents duplication of effort

Search Methods

1. Call out to victims.

2. Use systematic search pattern.

3. Stop frequently to listen.

4. Triangulate.

5. Mark searched areas to document results.

6. Report results.

Conducting Search Operations

Conducting Rescue Operations

Primary Functions:

• Creating safe rescue environment

• Lift objects out of the way.

• Use tools to move objects.

• Remove debris.

• Triaging or stabilizing victims

• Removing victims

Creating a Safe Environment

Goals:

• Maintain rescuer safety.

• Triage in lightly and moderately damaged buildings.

• Evacuate victims quickly from moderately damaged buildings-minimize injury.

Precautions to Minimize Risk

Safe Environment:

• Know your limitations

• Follow safety procedures.

• Remove debris by:

• Leveraging.

• Cribbing.

Removing Victims

Types of victim removal include:

• Self-removal or assist.

• Lifts and drags.

Allow victims to extricate themselves when possible.

Extrication Method

Depends upon:

• General stability of immediate environment.

• Number of rescuers available.

• Strength and ability of rescuers.

• Condition of victim.

Medical Subjects

Unit Objectives

1. Identify the “killers.”

2. Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock.

3. Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions.

Treatment of Life-Threatening Conditions

The “Killers”:

• Airway obstruction

• Excessive bleeding

• Shock

Unit Introduction

Topics:

• Public health concerns

• Organization of disaster medical operations

• Establishing treatment areas

• Conducting head-to-toe assessments

• Treating injuries

Disaster Psychology

Unit Objectives

1. Describe the disaster and post-disaster emotional environment.

2. Describe the steps that rescuers can take to relieve their own stress and those of disaster survivors.

Possible Psychological Symptoms

• Irritability, anger• Self-blame, blaming others• Isolation, withdrawal• Fear of recurrence• Feeling stunned, numb, or overwhelmed• Feeling helpless• Mood swings• Sadness, depression, grief• Denial• Concentration, memory problems• Relationship conflicts/marital discord

Possible Physiological Symptoms

• Loss of appetite• Headaches, chest pain• Diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea• Hyperactivity• Increase in alcohol or drug consumption• Nightmares• Inability to sleep• Fatigue, low energy

Victim Well-Being

• Encourage victim to talk about it

• Be a good Listener

• Establish Rapport

• Empathize

• Provide Confidentiality

Team Well-BeingCERT team leaders should:• Provide pre-disaster stress management training.• Brief personnel before response.• Emphasize teamwork.• Encourage breaks.• Provide for proper nutrition.• Rotate.• Phase out workers gradually.• Conduct a brief discussion.• Arrange for a post-event debriefing.

Reducing Stress

• Get enough sleep.• Exercise.• Eat a balanced diet.• Balance work, play, and rest.• Allow yourself to receive as well as give.

Remember that your identity is broader than that of a helper.

• Connect with others.• Use spiritual resources.

Avoid Saying . . .

• “I understand.”

• “Don’t feel bad.”

• “You’re strong/You’ll get through this.”

• “Don’t cry.”

• “It’s God’s will.”

• “It could be worse” or “At least you still have . . .”

Organization

Unit Objectives

• Describe the CERT organization.

• Identify how CERTs interrelate with ICS.

• Have a general understanding of ICS

• Explain documentation requirements.

Purpose of On-Scene Management

• Maintain safety of disaster workers.

• Provide clear leadership and organizational structure.

• Improve effectiveness of rescue efforts.

Need for CERT Organization

Provides:

• Common terminology that contributes to effective communication and shared understanding.

• Effective communication among team members.

• A well-defined management structure.

• Accountability.

Objectives of CERT Organization

• Identifies the scope of the incident

• Determines an overall strategy

• Deploys resources

• Provides Flexibility

• Documents actions and results

Incident Command • First member on scene is leader until relieved• Size-up the incident• Establish a Plan

• Safety• Control and Accountability• Communications

• Execute the Plan• Demobilize

Incident Command System (ICS)

• A standard methodology for command, control and administration of an incident

• Mandated by Federal and State of Florida

• Flexible in size using Building Blocks

• depending upon the size of the incident

• can grow and contract

CERT and the ICSBasic ICS Structure

Incident Commander

Operations Section Chief

Logistics Section Chief

Planning Section Chief

Administration Section Chief

Possible CERT Team Organization

• Command

• Medical

• Search & Rescue

• Fire Suppression

• Logistics

Operations Section

• Response activities -- rescue, firefighting, SWAT, traffic control, etc.

• Implements IAP (Incident Action Plan)• Advises IC (Incident Commander) on goals

and objectives

Plans Section Functions

• Prepares the Incident Action Plan (as guided by the IC)

• Determines what resources will be necessary, tracks deployment

• Documents actions

• Continues size-up and analysis

• Plans demobilization

Logistics Section Functions

• Communications

• Medical treatment of responders

• Setting up Staging areas

• Requesting resources

• Provides facilities, materials, and personnel for the responders -- NOT the population/victims

CERT Decisionmaking

• Heavy damage = No rescue

• Moderate damage = Minimize rescuers and time in building

• Light damage = Locate, triage, treat, and prioritize victim removal

Responsibilities for Documentation

• Provide command post with ongoing information.• Document training• Document incident status.

• Incident locations• Access routes• Identified hazards• Support locations• Who is involved

TERRORISMTERRORISM

Unit Objectives

• Define terrorism.

• Identify potential targets in the community.

• Identify CERT operating procedures for a terrorist incident.

• Describe the actions to take following a suspected terrorist incident.

What Is Terrorism?

The unlawful use of force or violence committed by a group or individual against persons or

property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

--U.S. Department of Justice

Potential Targets of Terrorism

Symbolic and historical targets

Public buildings or assembly areas

Controversial businesses such as Planned Parenthood clinics and fur stores

Infrastructure systems such as public safety, transportation, or communications

Institutions of higher learning

Chemical and agriculture storage areas

Hospitals

Terrorist Goals

• Mass causalities

• Loss of critical resources

• Disruption of vital services

• Disruption of the economy

• Individual and mass panic

Types of Terrorist Types of Terrorist WeaponsWeapons

AAgrogro

BBiologicaliologicalCChemicalhemicalDData/ata/““CyberCyber””EExplosive/Incendiaryxplosive/IncendiaryFFirearmsirearms++NNuclear/Radiologicaluclear/Radiological

Preparing for Terrorism

• Assembling a disaster supply kit.

• Identify a safe room and meeting place outside of the home or workplace.

• Develop a family communication plan.

• Learn shelter-in-place procedures.

Shelter-in-Place Procedures

• Shut off ventilation system. • Go to safe room with disaster supply kit.

• Duct tape plastic sheeting over openings where outside air can come in.

• Seal with duct tape other areas where air can come in.

• Listen to battery-powered radio for all clear.

CERT Guiding Principles

• Team safety is the number one priority.

• Always do a thorough size-up of situation.

• What are the dangers?

• What are team capabilities?

• What are team limitations?

CERTs and Terrorist Incidents

• Do not touch it!• Move away from the object or area.• Report it to authorities.

Caution! Using cellular phones or two-way radios may detonate an explosive device!

Basic Decontamination Procedures

1. Leave the contaminated area.

2. Take decontamination action.• Remove everything.• Wash hands before using them to

shower.• Shower or flush with cool water.• Blot dry.

3. Report for decontamination.