Saratoga Springs congratulates CERT grads
Lance Madigan - North County staff
Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Tim Hay presented the first graduating class of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers in January.¬
¬ Jeanne (Georgina) Anderson, Natasha Call, Kitty Cheney, Jarrah Gerald, Jeri Hansen, Elizabeth Harmer, Alicia Howard, Julie King, Julie Mohler, Allison Schipaanboord, Sabina Suggs and Kelsey Watson went through extensive training to learn about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area.¬
The training included basic disaster responses skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.¬ They were also taught such skills as how to make homes disaster-ready, run basic fire operations equipment such as generators and radios, and how to conduct house-to-house searches.
"The Saratoga Springs CERT teams are members of the community," said Rick Scott, fire fighter and CERT program coordinator.¬ He explained that while there were CERT groups set up through LDS wards, this new group has a city-wide focus.
The course started last June, with meetings twice a month for six months.¬ The instructors were members of the Fire Department, including Scott, Dawnya DeKarver, Kayli Frazier, Jack Homen, Robb Rowley, Tim Spek, Dan Lincoln and Darren Wright.¬ Funding was first provided by A Plus Benefits, but participants have supplied some materials on their own as well.
Kitty Cheney, a recent graduate, said, "I always wanted to learn a little more about how the city runs and how we can prepare for emergencies. I had taken a citizens academy in a previous city that I lived in and it was about the neatest thing I had ever done."
¬ When asked what was most interesting, Cheney said, "Triage.¬ That's a fun one, when you have a disaster and you can't help everyone."
¬ "The best part (was) gaining confidence in CPR skills and life saving abilities," said Sabina Suggs.¬ "Feeling a little more confident that if an emergency were to happen I would be more prepared as an individual."
The graduating CERT members are now going on to start Fire Corp training.¬ "The mission of Fire Corps is to increase the capacity of volunteer, career and combination fire and EMS departments through the use of citizen advocates. Fire Corps provides resources for departments to utilize citizen advocates in non-operational roles so they can develop, implement and sustain programs and services that will help their department meet the needs of their community.
"Fire Corp will last for one year.¬ The members will be trained under the standards set by the State of Utah Fire I level and the American Red Cross," Scott said.
"We are excited about it and want to utilize them anyway we can," added Hay.
"In April 2009, we will open the training up again to the community," Scott said. "The current members will be the instructors and the leadership of the teams.¬ Our goal is to have 50 members by 2010."
¬ For more information or to join the next CERT course, please contact Rick Scott at 801-443-1090 or e-mail your query to rscott@saratoga-springs.net.
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