Hightstown Community Emergency Response Team learns about fire suppression and disaster medical operations.
By: David Pescatore
LAWRENCE The Hightstown Community Emergency Response Team has reached the halfway point of its training, having attended classes in fire suppression and disaster medical operations.
"This is going to be a good program," said Meadow Drive resident Rob Trimboli.
Mr. Trimboli is exactly the type of person targeted for CERT by borough Emergency Management Coordinator Dean Raymond, who assembled the town’s inaugural class in December.
Mr. Trimboli said he volunteered with the East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 for four years, but left due to the time constraints.
"I got too involved," Mr. Trimboli said. "This seems like the next best thing."
"CERT is for people who like being involved in their town, but can’t make the commitment of joining the fire or rescue squad," Mr. Raymond said.
CERT members are trained in the most basic crisis management skills and would be called upon to assist police, fire and rescue personnel when those resources were depleted.
When not controlling catastrophes, the team could assist with disseminating information, monitoring crowds during civic events, and serve as a base of willing volunteers for whatever need may arise.
In late January, the team studied fire safety at the Dempster Fire Training Center in Lawrence, where each of the eight three-hour classes is held.
"When dealing with fire, common sense is your biggest ally," said Mike Loh, an instructor with the fire academy.
As a class, we learned about the different types of fires: paper, liquid, electrical, and metal, as well as how to extinguish small fires.
An exercise where each student would put out a small fire had to be canceled due to frigid temperatures.
Perhaps more importantly, we were taught to prevent fires.
Mr. Loh said to avoid overloading household circuits, and to use only metal surge protector outlet strips, as the plastic ones tend to melt when overworked.
He advised us never to run electrical cords under carpeting and to monitor cords for wear. As he said this, he held up the extension cord powering the classroom computer. It was well frayed, much to the amusement of the class.
Most important, according to Mr. Loh, is to install and maintain smoke detectors.
"It’s $30 versus the cost of a funeral," he said. "Besides, most fire departments give them away for free."
Despite our best efforts, we still may be faced with a fire. Or, we may come across one during a disaster. The most important thing then, according to instructor Tony Geleta, is to think.
"You have to stay smart," he said. "Don’t let a fire get between you and your exit. And don’t try to fight some big fire if you are standing there with a little hand-held extinguisher. They are designed to give a 20-second burst. If it doesn’t look like a fire that is going out in 20 seconds, get away."
Another important thing to remember is that in fires, most deaths are caused by smoke inhalation, Mr. Geleta said.
"Keep yourself safe," he said. "We don’t need any dead heroes."
The class concluded with two videos used to reinforce the need to evacuate a burning house as quickly as possible.
In the first, an electrical short ignites a Christmas tree, which in turn engulfs the room in less than 40 seconds.
The second film featured a smoldering couch pillow, which spread throughout the room in about three minutes.
"As you can see, you really don’t have a lot of time," Mr. Geleta said.
"That was surprising," said Windsor Regency resident Tim Coats, 26. "It was a real eye-opener."
Mr. Coats said that he felt reassured with the knowledge of how to protect his family in the event of a fire.
"This is good stuff to know," he said.
Myra Ortega said that she was considering taking the lessons learned in the Dempster basement and starting a CERT program in her workplace.
"This is great, I’m a teacher in Lawrence and I worry about things like terrorism. I’m thinking of going back and bringing a team to the schools," said the 24-year-old Bordentown resident.
Disaster Medical Operations was taught by several representatives of Capital Health System over two sessions. The first, last week, dealt with evaluating a mass-casualty situation and basic life saving techniques. The second held on Tuesday included assessing a patient and caring for wounds.
"If you guys are involved, that means that the paramedics are tied up, EMTs are tied up, rescue is tied up," said William Duffy, aeromedical and trauma systems coordinator with the state Department of Health and Senior Services. "You have to think about the situation. You are trying to do what is best for the most people."
That can lead to some tough decisions.
CERT members are not taught CPR, though they are encouraged to learn the technique on their own.
"One of the pitfalls in a mass casualty situation is that you spend too much time on one person," said paramedic Janis Jensen.
We were taught to arrive at a mass casualty site and begin separating victims into three categories, those requiring immediate attention, those who can wait, and those who are dead.
We were taught to open the victim’s airway, control bleeding, and treat for shock, then move on to the next victim. Performing CPR on a person who is not breathing could use time that could have saved others if we had just opened their airway with a simple technique.
"Even if CERT just goes through and establishes airways and stops bleeding, that will save a lot of lives," Mr. Raymond said.
Once the initial assessment is performed, CERT members can return to the "immediate" patients and begin a full head-to-toe assessment, treating injuries as they arise. Lessons included splinting broken limbs and treating burns.
Lenny Maxfield, with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department, kept the morbid subject matter a little upbeat.
"What kinds of objects can become impaled in a person?" he asked.
The class shouted the names of various pointy objects before Mr. Maxfield gave the answer, "Anything your wife can get her hands on."
After class, Mr. Duffy, who also serves as deputy coordinator for the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management, said, "It is yet to be seen where CERT will fit in."
"It is a good program, but it is up to the municipalities to see where this will fit in. There is a need, though," he said.
Mr. Maxfield said that he saw a lot of potential in our group.
"Everyone here is showing interest. That’s great," he said. "This group is really good. They are ready to get into this."
Borough resident Robert Davison said that halfway through the training, he still is excited about the team.
"This is a good program," he said.
As a retired New York firefighter, Mr. Davison said, "There is nothing here that I haven’t learned in other places, but this is good."
Over the next month, the team will learn about light search and rescue operations, disaster psychology, and team organization before the final examination on March 2.
Following the practical exam, the state Office of Emergency Management will supply graduates with a bright green vest and hard hat, which identifies CERT members throughout New Jersey. The state also provides gloves, dust masks, a flashlight, and a multitool that acts as a pry-bar and utility shut-off tool.
CERT was developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles Fire Department upon the recognition that during the earliest stages of a disaster, citizens would have to be self-reliant.
The events of Sept. 11, 2001, have brought awareness to the CERT program, which is being actively promoted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the Hightstown Borough Office of Emergency Management.
Volunteers are still welcome and need not be a resident of Hightstown. Volunteers from areas with no organized team may be culled into a regional squad.
Prospective volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to understand English to receive training.
For more information, contact New Jersey State CERT Coordinator Sgt. Joe Geleta at 538-6060, or 1-877-CERT-411.
On the Web, visit www.state.nj.us/njoem.
For information on preparing your home for disaster, visit www.fema.gov, or www.ready.gov.
Staff Writer David Pescatore will attend each CERT session and will provide periodic reports on the training. This is the second article in the series.