MOUNT VERNON — Following a natural or man-made disaster, many bystanders, just average citizens, will jump right in and try to find and rescue survivors.
Good Samaritans, however, though well-meaning, will many times end up becoming victims themselves. These “untrained volunteers,” can surely be effective in aiding others, but their lack of training puts themselves and others at risk.
During the response to the 1985 Mexico City earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people, it is estimated that these untrained volunteers saved 700 lives, however 100 of them died themselves in the process.
With these statistics in mind, the Los Angeles Fire Department decided to develop and offer disaster response training, so that during and after future disasters, volunteers would be able to assist in a safe, responsible, and effective manner.
Out of this program was formed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in 1986.
In less than a decade, fire departments from across the country adopted the program and in 1994 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expanded the program to communities nationwide, for citizens to respond to multiple disasters such as floods, tornados, hurricanes, and other disasters.
Five members of the Capt. Peter Chapman II Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, joined 27 other CAP members from the Ohio Wing, both cadets and adult volunteers, at the Ohio Fire Academy in Reynoldsburg recently for a two-day CERT training class.
Members from the Mt. Vernon Squadron included Squadron Commander, Capt. Ronald Winget, Deputy Commanders Chief Master Sergeant Craig Cox and Capt. John Morgan, Capt. Kimberly Cox and Cadet Staff Sergeant Abigail Hudson.
“Following a major disaster, it can be expected that response resources and communications could be restricted. Individuals and neighborhoods could be cut off from outside support,” Morgan said. “CERT training allows us to help ourselves, our families and our neighbors, until that support would be available.”
The Civil Air Patrol CERT training, which is held annually in partnership with the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), is delivered as a hybrid course, consisting of 12 hours of online instruction and 12 hours of in-person, hands-on instruction.
Core training topics included CERT Organization, Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety and small fire suppression , Disaster Medical Triage and Treatment, Light Search and Rescue Operations, Disaster Psychology, Hazardous Materials Recognition and Terrorism and CERT.
The course culminated with a Situational Training Exercise (STX), where teams were evaluated through 30-minute disaster scenarios designed to demonstrate mastery of practical skills learned throughout the class.
Since Civil Air Patrol began CERT training four years ago, over 100 members have become certified Community Emergency Response Team members.
“The CAP CERT team can be deployed state wide if the disaster situation warrants it and we are requested by state or local agencies,” Morgan said. “Not only that, but we as individually CERT qualified, can participate as local CERT team members in our home counties, with our county EMA departments.”
The Capt. Peter Chapman II Composite Squadron meets every Monday evening at 6 p.m. at the Knox County Airport terminal building. The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program is open to youth ages 12 to 18.
The program focuses on leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness and character development.
For more information on the Cadet Program or adult volunteer opportunities, please contact Capt. John Morgan, CAP, at 740-263-1664.
