‘Prepared For Anything’ Community Emergency Response Team Practiced Their Skills By Taking Part In A Mock Disaster

Pleading voices screamed through the halls of Zion Christian Center last week.

“I can’t breathe! Help me! Somebody…” came one cry from a dark room in a dizzying state of disarray.

Quickly, the Community Emergency Response Team, clad in green hard hats and neon lime reflective vests, entered the room.

“Can anyone hear me? If you can move, come to the sound of my voice,” called one team member.

The emergency - effects of a mock tornado - at the Zion Christian Center was just part of a community-wide disaster drill in the Nevada Lidgerwood neighborhood. At the same time, simulations of downed power lines at Lidgerwood Elementary School and a four-car collision resulted in dozens of victims being rushed to Holy Family Hospital.

Though the hospital stages disaster drills at least twice a year, this was the first one that involved so many local agencies.

The Department of Emergency Management, American Medical Response Ambulance, Spokane Police Department, Spokane Fire Department, Nevada Lidgerwood COPS, AVISTA and the Nevada Lidgerwood Neighborhood Council all helped to make the disaster drill as realistic as possible.

A ham radio operator provided communication, since a disaster would likely wipe out power and telephone service.

Thanks to a little make-up, victims displayed authentic-looking bloody, oozing wounds. They also moaned and hobbled convincingly.

CERT members carried backpacks filled with about 40 useful items like latex gloves, tweezers, flashlights and whistles. They wrapped wounds in gauze and constructed splints from cardboard. The most injured were carried out of the building strapped to tables.

Members set up a triage area outside, and tagged victims according to the seriousness of their wounds: green for the walking wounded, yellow for less serious injuries, red for those in critical condition, and black for the dead.

Triage is one of the skills CERT members learned during their eight-week training course, teaching citizens how to assist in an emergency. If emergency crews are tied up - fighting a fire, for example - CERT members can help provide basic, rapid treatment.

They receive 24 hours of instruction on disaster preparedness for earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and blizzards; how to put out a fire; light search and rescue; basic medical treatment for burns, wounds, fractures and sprains; and disaster psychology - helping survivors cope.

CERT member John VanSant said such extensive training helped him know just what to do during last week’s drill.

“We’re prepared for anything,” he said.

Officials observing the drill seemed to agree.

“They were very organized and paid great attention to detail,” said Neighborhood Resource Officer Will Willmschen. “They worked together as a team. I was very impressed with that.”

The victims, too, had positive feedback for the team.

“They were careful but quick,” said Jason Clipson, 20, who pretended to have a broken arm.

“I was treated well,” said Jaime Britt, 20, sporting fake puncture wounds, bruises and facial lacerations. “They comforted me, and got me to calm down and stop crying. The physical touch helped a lot.”

After about 30 minutes, all the victims were outside awaiting transport to Holy Family Hospital.

There, hospital staff had put their emergency preparedness plan into action and were pleased with the results.

“The system is working well,” said Barbara Savage, vice president of mission and community relations. “Individual departments are doing what they should do. Patients are triaged well, we have staff available, we have supplies and we are getting things to people.”

Only small glitches, like double reporting to various chains of command, were detected, Savage said.

CERT training has been completed by members of the Nevada Lidgerwood neighborhood and Southeast COPS. Members of the Cliff-Cannon and Moran Prairie neighborhoods are training now. Several other neighborhoods have expressed interest in the program.

DETAILS For more information about CERT, contact your neighborhood council, local police substation or Block Watch.