Post Classifieds
CERT focuses on safety and preparedness
By Britney Nowak
On October 24, 2012
Campus safety and disaster preparedness is a chief concern for students, staff and faculty alike. The
Campus Emergency Response Team is one of the programs on campus designed with those concerns in
mind.
According to a presentation given by CERT last week, it is a program that trains civilians to become
auxiliary responders. Bystanders, or sometimes the victims themselves, are the first responders in 95
percent of emergencies. In training, team members learn about disaster preparedness, fire safety,
disaster, medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and terrorism. All of these are
in the training curriculum in the Federal Emergency Management Agency program.
In the event of an emergency, first responders may not be able to come to students' aid as quickly as
they would like. In situations like this it is important for people to have some emergency aid training.
That's where CERT comes in.
Molly Prell, the co-commander of CERT, said, "It's really more geared towards faculty and staff, but we
do train with students."
Training is done in two and a half to four hour sessions one to two times a week over a five to seven
week period.
"We're trained in basic first aid and basic awareness from terrorism to fire prevention." Prell said.
One of the best things about CERT, according to Prell, is that what is learned during training can be
applied to everyday life. What is learned in fire safety training, for example, can be used in the home in
regards to the safe use of candles and how to use fire extinguishers. Skills learned can also be used for
general hazards in the home and workplace, he said.
"What we learn in first aid, if ever used, will actually most likely be used in your own home or on your
own family member," Prell said.
Disaster preparedness is another area CERT is trained in. In the event of a big storm or power outage
CERT has the ability to help campus members prepare so that food, water and other important materials
are on hand in the event of an emergency.
"What we learn in Disaster Preparedness is priceless in everyday life," Prell said.
CERT is not just for large disasters. Something as simple as a power outage can mean no 911 service.
"A few years ago, when the college lost power, CERT members went from building to building, looking
for potential hazards," Prell said. "Not really major, but very helpful to the campus community."
CERT also partners with the Weigel Health Center for CPR and Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED)
training. There are emergency AED kits on campus which are vital in the event of a heart attack.
Paul Murphy, who used to work as a firefighter, is now a part of CERT. Preparedness is the key, he said.
"You never know when disaster is going to strike," he said. "People will have to rely on each other."
Students interested in participating in CERT are encouraged to check out their website, where
information can be found about upcoming drills and events, training and important safety alerts.
"There really are no qualifications," Prell said.
Britney Nowak can be reached by email at nowak.record@live.com.
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