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In case of an emergency
By David MackeyRelated Photos
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Participants in a Citizen Emergency Response Training course at Cullman Civic Center carry a mannequin Friday was part of an emergency response exercise. The responders lifted a table, simulating a collapsed wall, off the "injured" dummy, then safely transported it to a medical station. David Mackey
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Add a comment on this storyDozens of emergency responders from across the state wrapped up a three-day training course in Cullman Friday, learning how to prepare their communities for a disaster.
The Community Emergency Response Team course teaches civilians how to handle themselves after events like tornados, hurricanes, floods or terrorist attacks. More than 30 responders converged on Cullman for a "train the trainers" session, learning the course so they can teach it in their hometowns.
"If you didn't have any idea of emergency response, we teach you to take care of yourself, your family and your neighbors for 72 hours," said Kelly Allen, deputy director of the Cullman County Emergency Management Agency.
Thursday, the final day of the course, the parking lot and surrounding area of the Cullman Civic Center became a disaster zone. The simulated scenario was of tornados blowing through the center of a town.
Participants broke into groups to deal with the consequences: a broken water main, a wrecked school bus, an overturned tanker carrying hazardous materials, and a second tornado hitting the town's designated medical shelter.
One group used a mannequin and a folding table to simulate a wall collapsing on a man. Vital statistics, like his pulse and respiration, were written on the mannequin's chest, and responders had to lift the "wall" off his body without further injuring him.
Emergency personnel built a fulcrum from stacked bricks, then used that for leverage to lift the wall with a long pole. With the wall raised off the mannequin's lower body, others dragged him out from under the wall, then carefully rolled him onto a sheet to safely carry him to help without causing neck injuries.
One of the visiting responders was Mike Evans of the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency. Evans said CERT-trained civilians were useful in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
"We already know what they're capable of ahead of time," Evans said of trained volunteers. "Everybody across the board is trained alike."
CERT training includes information on fire suppression, search-and-rescue operations, injury assessment and first aid and debris removal and victim extraction.
Capt. Debbie Bryars of the Mobile Fire Department said the goal of the training "is to do the most good for the most people."
Allen said about two dozen people have already been trained and put to use in Cullman County. The local Emergency Management Agency received a $19,000 grant from the federal government to implement the program.
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