The Community Emergency Response Team with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, formally known as CERT came together this morning to teach people how to help first responders in the case of a disaster. As well as how to be prepared for one, and how to help others in need.
Students learned everything from disaster preparedness, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue.
The first lesson students learn is why it's important to become a CERT member.
Pat Fries has been a registered nurse for the past 40 years, and has been teaching for the last 10.
She says it's important because in a disaster situation the number of victims could be more than what first responders are expecting. So having more hands on scene can help a lot. Secondly, if survivors are trained to help one another more lives can be saved.
"If we have a major disaster there is only so many of us that can start out ahead of first responders. And if you can take care of your family... so if I go up and knock on your door, and you say 'I have cert training,' then I can go on to help someone else," says Fries.
Fries says medically they look for airway obstruction, excessive bleeding, and check to see if someone is in shock.
"So if they are bleeding excessively you apply direct pressure, we put on bandages, elevate the limbs."
For people who take this free course it means everything to be able to help save lives.
Chuck Baker says, "I have a son with the Sheriff's Department, family's all throughout law enforcement. And being prepared, taking care of your loved ones, and your family is important."
"For me the biggest gratitude that I have out of everything that's here, is I know that everyone that goes through the academy is actually prepared in their own home," says Michael Perry the Citizens Corps Program Coordinator with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.
Fries says, "I'm retired now so I'm no longer on the front lines with them so I just can't put it down. Once an RN always an RN, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
If you would like more information on how you can get involved in the CERT Program click this link.
