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When Professional Responders Can't Respond: Is your company really prepared for an emergency? Sure, you may have some plans written. Perhaps you've even conducted a few exercises. But, ask yourself these questions:
In America, we are blessed to have a very effective 911 system across the country. When there's trouble, you pick up the phone, dial 911 and within a few minutes you have police, fire, and/or EMS personnel there to help fix whatever has gone wrong. But what would happen if the event was so big first responders were delayed or prevented from responding? According to information on the Citizen Corps website (www.citizencorps.gov), there is on average:
What's more, in 95 percent of all emergencies, bystanders or victims themselves are the first to provide emergency assistance or to perform a rescue. These figures support the fact that in a large-scale disaster, there just won't be enough professional responders to take care of us. Factors such as the number of victims, communication failures and road blockages will prevent people from accessing the emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. We should understand that under these kinds of conditions, family members, neighbors and fellow employees will spontaneously try to help each other. People will have to rely on each other for help to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. Think about the last exercise you conducted on your business continuity plans. Perhaps, like many others, your employees wanted to get back inside the business to see what's wrong or to help others. This actually occurred following the Mexico City earthquake several years ago, when untrained, well-meaning, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. But 100 of those well-meaning people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay - and it is preventable through training. In the late 1980s, the Los Angeles City Fire Department developed and implemented a concept we've now come to know as Community Emergency Response Team. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need to train civilians to meet the population's immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created its Disaster Preparedness Division, with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees. This training program makes good sense and helps citizens understand their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their families, neighbors and fellow employees. Subsequently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognized the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy (NFA) adopted and expanded the CERT materials, believing them applicable to all hazards. Today, CERT is taught in many communities across the country, and it's beginning to find its way into corporate emergency preparedness programs as well. CERT is a 20-hour hands-on training taught by a team of instructors (generally including local first responders) who have the requisite knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. In a corporate setting, the training is usually delivered in two 1/2 day sessions. The standard CERT agenda consists of the following: Module I, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: This module addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in their community. Course materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during and after a disaster. As the session progresses, the instructor begins to explore an expanded response role for individuals in which they should begin to consider themselves disaster workers. Since they will want to help their family members, neighbors and co-workers, this training can help them operate in a safe and appropriate manner. This module also discusses the CERT concept and organization, as well as any applicable laws governing volunteers. Module II, DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION: This topic briefly covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression strategies. The thrust of this session, however, is the safe use of fire extinguishers, sizing up the situation, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire. Module III, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques. Module IV, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART II: This module covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area, performing basic first aid and practicing in a safe and sanitary manner. Module V, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS: Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques and, most importantly, rescuer safety. Module VI, TEAM ORGANIZATION: This session addresses CERT organization and management principles as well as the need for documentation. Module VII, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY: The module covers signs and symptoms the disaster victims and workers might experience. Module VIII, TERRORISM AND CERT: This topic defines terrorism and explores what CERT team members can do following a terrorist attack. Module IX, COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION: Participants review their answers from a take-home examination. Finally, they practice the skills they have learned during the previous eight sessions in disaster simulation. CERT, whether in a community or corporate setting, is about readiness: People helping people, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens (employees) will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Major disasters can overload the capability of first responders, especially during the first critical 12 to 72 hours of the event. CERT can provide your company and community with a well trained, readily available pool of local people who know their surroundings and can help during this critical time. What can you, as an individual, do to become prepared or help your business or community become prepared? You should follow these three steps: 1. Learn - If you haven't already taken a CERT class, seek one out. If you have, look for other opportunities to expand your emergency preparedness knowledge. Many state, local, and federal emergency management agencies offer such training. Visit the FEMA website (www.fema.gov) for outstanding training opportunities. By doing so, you'll have the skills to be prepared as well as the knowledge and experience necessary to address Step 2. 2. Be a "Preparedness Ambassador" - Help spread the word. Unfortunately, we tend to have very short memories. How long did the effects of the coverage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita stay with us? We must take responsibility for our own well-being. 3. Get involved - Look for opportunities to use CERT as a valuable enhancement to your existing business continuity program. When selling CERT, focus on its proven benefits, not the usual "the sky is falling" threats. Focus on positive benefits like the following:
b. As such, they will tend to be more readily available to the business to assist with recovery efforts which can translate into reduced recovery costs. c. And speaking of costs, CERT can be a very cost-effective training opportunity. By looking for local opportunities to partner with others within a community, you can distribute costs across a wider base and you can leverage the instructors and other resources that are local. Additionally, you may be able to share in grants that may be available to fund the training. d. Employees will develop a strong positive attitude toward their overall well-being at work. e. By having trained personnel, there maybe a financial incentive in the form of reduced insurance costs. You should check with your insurance carrier or Risk Management office to quantify this fact for your given situation. f. It's a great opportunity to demonstrate community support. Look for community CERT teams to join. Your corporate knowledge and experience will be viewed as a welcome addition. If your community hasn't started a CERT team yet, find out who in your community you might speak to about starting one. Generally, CERT will be an initiative that falls under the police, fire or emergency management departments. Finally, check the Citizen Corps website www.citizencorps.gov for other great opportunities. About the Author |