CERT

CERT might recall to one’s memory a breath mint that was popular from the 1950s to 2018. I f you’re like me, you missed its discontinuance in 2018 “for having partially hyd roge nated cottonseed oil, which is not allowed as an ingredient in food,” according to Wikipedia.

A nd how is it that we don’t remember how diligently our government works to protect us?

No, the CERT I’m talking about is an acronym for “Community Emergency Response Team.”

Now there’s a term that takes up more room in the mouth than a Certs ever did.

It probably lasts longer than a Certs, too, unless you chew it down to acronym size!

This CERT is not to be confused with “Correctional Emergency Response Team,” which is not where some might think their mothers received their training. (It’s just what you probably thought, training for personnel at a correctional institution.) Nor is it the “Computer Emergency Response Team” that researches and reports on Internet related security.

The Community Emergency Response Team is a concept from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, another acronym for our shortening of dialogue.

CERTs are run by an area’s emergency management department as a “civilian” support group for trained first responders and medical emergency personnel. By “civilian” I mean people with basic training in fire control and first aid that might be needed in the minutes before the more rigorously trained rescue squads and fire departments can get to the scene. They might be extinguishing a small fire before it gets out of hand, performing C.P.R., or stemming a dangerous bleeding.

They are “citizen responders” and might very often be on scene before the “professionals” can arrive.

Beyond that, CERT personnel support the efforts of the trained firefighters and medical technicians with the basic needs they have while dealing with dangerous situations. At prolonged emergencies, such as forest fires, search and rescue missions, flooding events, and multiple highway wrecks, they might be supplying the “professional” responders with food and water and a place for taking a break.

CERT volunteers might also be called on to help set up and tend to emergency shelters for people stranded or displaced by a natural disaster, usually in conjunction with the Red Cross.

We have a CERT here in Rockbridge County. It would be easy to say “we’re lucky enough to have one,” but luck has n othing t o d o w ith i t. I t was added to our county’s emergency operations plan by thoughtful county supervisors and a supporting county administration. Its leadership is staffed with well trained, professional i ndividuals. I ts ranks are private citizens volunteering to serving, like our first responders, at a moment’s notice.

The Rockbridge CERT is organized with “the intent to provide a qualified, trained, organized team to provide assistance to the citizens of Rockbridge County in the event of disaster.” Other assistance can be offered as needed, including to jurisdictions contiguous to Rockbridge.

Our CERT is part of and responsible to Rockbridge County Emergency Management headed by Fire-Rescue Chief Nathan Ramsey and Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Kevin Moore. Serving as the president of CERT is Jutta Hopkins. Those interested in volunteering can reach her at “juttahopkins60@gmail. com.”

Ms. Hopkins is a professional healthcare provider. One of her major goals is to establish a team throughout the Rockbridge area to ensure that there are trained individuals ready to assist before Rockbridge Fire-Rescue can arrive. Volunteers can participate to the degree they choose based on their capabilities and training.

“Some members (associate level) may choose just to receive information and might be available if something ‘big’ h appens. O ther m ay be involved in regular activities. CERT’s four priorities are: support the Emergency Operations Center (most likely at the Rockbridge Fire and Rescue building on Bane Lane just west of the Rt. 60 entrance to the Buena Vista branch of Mountain Gateway Community College), provide responder rehab if requested by emergency management, work with Red Cross and the Department of Social Services if emergency shelters need to be set up, and offer community preparedness education.”

The Rockbridge County CERT is offering such a class, “Until Help Arrives,” free on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Kerrs Creek Fire and Rescue Building from 5:30 to 8 p.m. One does not have to be a resident of the Kerrs Creek area to attend. Registration is not required, but spaces are limited. Attendees must be over 18 years of age due to some graphic content shown in video format.

Participants can learn about the critical role they would play in the emergency medical response system, discuss how/ why people act, and learn how their minds and bodies may respond under stress. Focus will also be on how to effectively communicate with a 9-1-1 dispatcher, how to assess life-threatening situations, and how to apply pressure to stop bleeding.

Life-threatening injuries can occur any time or place, and while we don’t live in an area subject to frequent disasters, we do have floods, ice storms, even a derecho, that isolate citizens from immediate professional care.

CERT volunteers are the help until the help arrives.

More information on CERT is on the Rockbridge County website.