CERT conducts a mock disaster drill at Station 3
By PAUL BAUMANN
CERT Publicity Officer
In July, your Pine Island CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) held a mock disaster drill behind Fire Station #3 in Bokeelia. The scenario was that a high speed boat had crashed into a ferry boat and caused mass casualties. CERT members came to the scene and performed what is called a “triage.” In triage, injured parties are evaluated as to the seriousness of their injuries and divided into three groups: those needing “immediate treatment,” those who are injured but can weather “delayed treatment” and those who are “dead.”
The drill was arranged and supervised by Training Coordinator Birge Anderson under the direction of Fire Chief David Bradley. Volunteers from the Fire Department and some of their family members, and people from the Pine Island Church Youth Group, about 30 adults and youths in all, played the victims. Cert members found them laying on the ground around the pond at the rear of Fire Station #3 and conducted a light search and rescue of the area and then arranged a staging area where the “triage” was set up and the “casualties” arranged according to the seriousness of their injuries. It was a learning experience for all.
CERT is looking for new members. If you are interested you can stop at Fire Station #1 at the center and pick up a application. To learn more visit WWW.LeeCert.org.