CERT Search and Rescue Exercise

The brand new Fire Training Tower. CERT triage tarps.

Green tarp – Minor, Yellow tarp – Delayed, Red tarp – Immediate

Photo-essay. On March 24th, 2018 Coastside CAL Fire held a CERT Search and Rescue exercise. CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a FEMA program designed to train civilians on emergency response techniques.

Half Moon Bay Battalion Chief, Dave Cosgrave, and La Honda Fire Chief, Ari Delay, led the exercise for about 25 participants.

Cardboard heads stand in as victims. Each head has the condition of the victim taped to the head. CERT triage/sort the victims into Minor, Delayed, Immediate and Deceased. Each victim and their condition are recorded. Every 15 minutes each victim is reassessed, until first responders can transport to hospital.

This exercise is the culmination of 24 hours of training, over two evenings, and two Saturdays.

CERT Modules/Topics

Disaster Preparedness
Fire Safety and Utility Controls
ICS (Incident Command System). Students are taught the management system which covers
- Planning (Plan it)
- Logistics (Find and Order it)
- Operations (Get and Implement it)
- Finance (track it so FEMA can reimburse $$)
Disaster Medical Operations ~ Mass Casualty First Aid and Triage
Light Search and Rescue
Disaster Psychology
Terrorism and CERT

The black tarp, for the deceased, is always placed off to the side from the other tarps.

Contact

If you would like to learn more about CERT contact CERT trainer, Michelle Dragony.

Go to Coastside Buzz’s Coastside Emergency Prep for more information.

Cribbing exercise. CERT learn how to safely move heavy objects in order to free a trapped victim. Using mechanical advantage, they gradually crib the heavy object using wood blocks as a fulcrum and a big metal bar as a lever. Team work is essential.

Before entering a building to search and rescue, CERT write on the door or the wall by the door who entered and when. CERT work in teams of three. Two go in, and one stays by door. If something happens to the two inside, the outside watch can get help. First responders are able to triage a neighborhood more quickly if CERT help. As they drive by a neighborhood they can get a quick feel for what has already been covered with this signage.

Finding victims and labeling triage tape. As they are searching, Minor victims that can walk, are directed to the Green tarp. Delayed victims are helped to the Yellow tarp, Immediate to Red tarp, deceased to black. Helmets are worn to avoid falling debris in a damaged building.

Each victim is tracked as they are removed from the building. They are tracked until they get to the hospital. All information during victims’ rescue is documented.

Baby rescued, labelled yellow for delayed. The adult is green and has only minor injuries.

Bringing rescued baby to the Yellow Delayed tarp.

Rescuers look for three danger signs to determine if victim is Red.

1. Breathing over 30 seconds per minute (panting)

2. Capillary refill (finger pinch, release) less than 2 seconds.

3. Mental Status (can respond).

To left: Open fracture. Not good.

Capillary refill less and 2 seconds – good!

Can respond – good!

Breathing 30+ – uh oh, sound shocky

Move to Yellow tarp and review status every 15 minutes.

Triage Leader can have a green victim sit with him to keep him calm and help stabilize the fracture.

To right: Unresponsive = RED / Immediate, even though capillary refill is less than 2 seconds and breathing under 30.

CERT includes disaster psychology. Sometimes victims die and then they need to be moved to the black tarp. Blankets make a great stretcher, in a pinch.