CERT had a training session on Aug. 17 where team members were instructed on the use of the backboard for handling a severely injured victim suffering neck or back injuries. Fire Chief David Bradley arranged for a team of Pine Island Firefighters to demonstrate how to use the board to brace the neck of a standing victim by placing the board against her back, and using a neck brace and a four man team to brace her against the board, immobilize her head and neck, and gently lower her and the board to a prostrate position on the floor. From there she can be transported stretcher-like, with head and neck immobilized, to a treatment facility. Next the same scenario was repeated with the victim laying on the floor and the technique for immobilizing the head and neck while gently rolling her onto the backboard was demonstrated.

Next, the CERT team was instructed of to use victim identification tags while treating victims according to the seriousness of their injuries. After that Chief Bradley issued hangtags to attendees to be hung from the CERT members rear view mirror to facilitate his or her return to the Island in the event of an evacuation. The training session will take place on Sept. 21. Hopefully there will not be any real call-ups before then. If there is, we are ready.

Interested in joining the team? Call the Matlacha-Pine Island Fire District Business Office at 283-0030.