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September 2024
CERT Auxiliary of Santa Cruz Country
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Meet Our Train the Trainer Grads! | | |
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Congratulations to our newly FEMA-certified CERT Basic instructors. These folks spent three long days in early August learning the ins and outs of presenting CERT Basic in an entertaining, informative and accessible way to all members of our communities. In no particular order: Lila Jones, Ann Scherer, and Marc Pavone from Loma Prieta CERT; Kimberlee Walsh, Bonny Doon CERT; Laura Terrazas and John Hanley with Aptos/Soquel CERT; Don Dickerson representing Live Oak CERT; Ashli Sturgill of Felton Area CERT; Stephan Edgar from UCSC CERT; Avi Conant and Patrice Tanti from the City of Santa Cruz CERT; Maria Perez of Watsonville CERT, and firefighters Samuel Filson (CalFire) and Genoa Fox (Loma Prieta Volunteer FD).
The CERT Auxiliary and our new instructors are grateful to the local businesses whose donations and discounts enabled us to keep our Train the Trainer students (and instructors) well fed: Erik's Deli, Pacific Cookie Company, Showtime Pizzeria, Taqueria Los Gordos, and Trader Joe's. Special thanks to Chad Fitzgerald, FEMA Trainer from Clovis Fire for all his wonderful work with the class.
Kudos to you all!
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From Winter Storm Preparations
to Wildfire Evacuations:
How CERT Training has Increased
Our Preparedness and Awareness
by Isabelle Gross and Ursula Scholz-Gross
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As residents of the Santa Cruz Mountains for over two decades, we have experienced a number of natural disasters as well as the aftermath of these disasters. Throughout the years, we have primarily learned about preparation, survival, and recovery through direct experiences with prolonged power outages, evacuations due to wildfires, earthquakes, winter storms with wind gusts of up to 60 mph, downed trees, and snow/ice.
Although we would consider ourselves to have developed a set of valuable set of “survival skills” from these experiences, having the opportunity to take part in CERT training in 2019 and participate in continuing education classes offered through Santa Cruz County CERT has exponentially increased our knowledge of important survival protocols, the Incident Command System, as well as provided invaluable resources and training surrounding preparedness.
In particular, we have been trained on disaster psychology, the use of MURS radios, preparing medical and emergency go-bags, CPR/first aid, active shooter protocols, how to stop severe bleeding, utility safety, reversing opioid overdoses, and sheltering in place during a wildfire to add to our preparedness toolbox.
Alongside increasing our awareness, knowledge, and skills on the topics listed, this training has also reduced much of our stress around emergencies. This is in part due to our improved preparedness for a variety of possible crises but also because of the devoted team of CERT Instructors and Leads who invest their time and hearts in passing on their expertise and passion for keeping our community safe. We are grateful for all those (Dawn Mackey, Ed Olson, LizAnne Jensen, Hank Moeller, Joyce Smith, Mary Edmund, and more) who have guided us along our journey as disaster service workers.
With Gratitude,
Isabelle & Ursula
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CERT BASIC FOR CERTS AND NON-CERTS | |
CERT Basic Training - open to all
Fall classes throughout the County
Santa Cruz County’s Community Emergency Response Team program seeks volunteers ready to learn how to stay safe when disaster strikes and to assist the community during natural disasters and other significant events.
Enrollment is now open for volunteers willing and able to take CERT Basic training during upcoming 21 hour classes.
Watsonville Weekend Warrior CERT Basic Class
When: Three full Saturdays. September 21st and 28th, 9am - 5 pm, and October 5th, 9 - 4:30..
Where: Watsonville Fire Stn. #2, 371 Airport Blvd, Watsonville. The final full training day and hands-on assessment will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, October 5th at the Central Fire District Administration Building and practice yard, Live Oak.
Central County CERT Basic Class
When: Four Thursday evenings. October 24th, November 7th, 14th, 21st. The final full training day and hands-on assessment will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November 30th .
Where: Central Fire District Administration Building and practice yard, 930 17th, Live Oak.
CERTs are trained in responding to emergencies in their neighborhoods and develop life-saving skills with emphasis on decision-making ability, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. All sessions are required to become a CERT volunteer. Spanish-language materials available. CERT Training is a no-cost, FEMA-certified course available to Santa Cruz County residents.
To sign up for a class, CLICK HERE. Then select from the menu for the location/session you want. You will receive an email confirmation within 5 minutes.
Instructors and Instructors-in-Training
SIGN UP TO TEACH HERE
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Stop the Bleed
Open to CERTs and non-CERTs, teens and adults. Accidents happen. Chainsaws can slip and horses can kick. A person with a life-threatening bleed can bleed out in 5 minutes! This is a training every community member should take.
In this STOP THE BLEED course, you’ll learn three quick techniques to help save a life before someone bleeds out:
(1) Direct pressure
(2) Packing a wound
(3) How to correctly apply a tourniquet.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER For Nov 6, 6-8 PM in Ben Lomond
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER For Dec 8, 10-Noon in Live Oak
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Advanced Bandaging
(AKA CERT Arts and Crafts Pt 2)
Saturday, October 26th, 10-12, Live Oak
On your average day, if you cut your hand while chopping veggies, you head to urgent care or call 911 and let the first responders take care of you. But in a large disaster such as a 7.5 earthquake, help may not come. Your cut hand or the leg that ran into the chainsaw, will not take priority. That is where we as CERTs can help out. Bandaging becomes an advanced first aid skill when help is delayed.
In this 2-hour class we will practice bandaging the injury using a variety of techniques including Israeli bandages for leg, shoulder or head wounds, and immobilizing an impaled object.
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For details and to register, CLICK HERE.
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Incident Command System:
FEMA IS-100 & IS-200
Saturday, October 26th, 1-3 pm (IS-100)
Saturday, November 17th, 9-12:30 (IS-200)
Struggling to complete the Santa Cruz County CERT required FEMA IS-100 & IS-200 courses?
Let's work together. The FEMA course slides will be projected on large screen and as a group we will complete the required course.
Students bring their personal computers and will then take the required test independently. Students will need to set up/retrieve a FEMA Student ID prior to attending.
For details and to register:
CLICK HERE FOR IS-100
CLICK HERE FOR IS-200
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Series of 4 Advanced Trainings
You may have noticed a few CERTs with DSW badges that say "ADVANCED" across the top. All CERT DSWs are encouraged to take this series of 4 classes after taking the Basic Training course.
What should a CERT member know before they are activated as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW)? The Basic Training course teaches us how to support ourselves, family and neighborhood in the event of a disaster but does not teach all the skills needed to operate with local government agencies or first responders. We have developed four modules to teach a DSW about the organization that they work under, personal safety, effective communications, and emergency medical skills.
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Module 1: Understanding the CERT organizational structure and policies. 9/26, 7-9 PM. Taught by Mary Edmund, CERT Auxiliary Executive Director via Zoom
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Module 2: Understanding your role as a DSW. 10/22, 7-9 PM. Taught by John Collins, Planning Chief in Live Oak
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Module 3: Effective assessment and communications.11/19, 7-9 PM. Taught by John Collins in Live Oak.
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Module 4: Managing a Medical Emergency. 12/5, 7-9 PM. Taught by Mary Edmund and JoMarie Faulkerson, RN in Live Oak
All CERTs who complete the full series will be recognized with an "Advanced" designation on their badge. Join the 13 who have already earned the new badge, like Mary!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER
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CERT Phone Applications
Presenters: Paul Garcia, and Jenni Gomez of the County's Geographic Information System (GIS) department.
This training over Zoom will provide you with access to the Santa Cruz County GIS Team’s mobile applications.
The scSURF app will be a new tool in CERT’s toolkit. CERTs may report damage assessments (aka Windshield assessments) in their neighborhoods to help close the information gap within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during activations.
The Knock & Talk app will be used to document public outreach as directed by the EOC with real-time reporting of area evaluations and contacts.
Note: This class is being repeated to allow all active CERTs to attend a session. Click a date below to register.
Thursday, October 10, 7-9 pm via Zoom
Saturday, October 19, 10 am - noon via Zoom
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The Communications Corner | |
Basic MURS Radio Operation
WHAT: ZOOM class for CERT Basic MURS Radio Training
WHEN: Monday, September 23, 2024 from 7 pm to 9 pm
PRESENTER: Roberta Roberts, Communications Officer
This online-only class is designed primarily for new users, or those who need to brush up on their MURS radio knowledge. It is helpful, but not necessary to have the BTech Version 2 MURS Radio that has been programmed by CERT.
Click here to Register
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MURS Radio Exercise
WHAT: MURS Radio training and exercise
WHEN: Sunday, October 27, 2-4 pm
WHERE: Anna Jean Cummings County Park (Blue Ball Park), 461 Old San Jose Road, Soquel
PRESENTER: Roberta Roberts, Communications Officer
This will be an in-person, hands-on class, for those who may be new to CERT, unfamiliar with our MURS radio or uncertain about how to use it, or want a refresher. Those who have more experience using MURS radios are welcome to attend, refresh their skills and assist with those who are new.
Click here for more info & to Register
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Upcoming HAM Radio License Class
WHAT:Free Limited Ham Radio Technician Study Group
WHEN: The class will start on September 24th from 7 - 9 pm and run for 6 weeks
WHERE: County Sheriff/EOC building, 5200 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz/Live Oak
Click here for more info
Sign up Here
Note: This training is NOT sponsored by the CERT Auxiliary. This information is shared for those interested.
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Good Fire Fair in Felton, October 5th
Learn the how, where and why fire is used to manage the natural landscape at the Central Coast Good Fire Fair on Saturday, Oct. 5. The fair is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton in Santa Cruz County. Parking in the park is $10/vehicle. The event is sponsored by the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network and California State Parks.
Cooperating organizations include CalFire, Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County, Amah Mutsun Land Trust, Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, SC County Land Trust, Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association and more.
Click for more information
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Active Shooter Response Training and CERTs, Together Again | | |
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By JoMarie Faulkerson, Deputy Operations Chief
In July, Santa Cruz County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) volunteers were activated to support the annual Santa Cruz Regional Active Shooter and Casualty Care Response Training event sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s department. The volunteers were tasked to monitor the perimeter of the access-controlled training site, redirecting unauthorized pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic that inadvertently entered the area, and reporting/communicating potential suspicious activity or other issues.
The event ran for six days, July 15 to July 20, 2024, at Aptos High School. This is a professionally conducted training for law enforcement, fire, and medical first responders who may be called upon to face an active shooter in a crowded environment. The training includes live scenarios with volunteer actors playing the roles of shooters, victims, and panicked bystanders. The organizing of the event was completed over several months. CERT command staff of John Collins, Planning Chief; Bil Monroe, Operations Chief; Lynn Gainey, Logistics Chief (and brand new to her role) and JoMarie Faulkerson, Logistics Deputy along with Dan Selling N6RJX, ARES Event Manager were included in the planning.
Continue Reading
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Neuroscientists have found that making a donation makes the brain's reward circuitry light up more than receiving a gift. Moreover, the joy of giving a gift lasts longer than the fleeting pleasure of accepting it." - Fast Company,
Science explains the surprising benefits of gift giving
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