More than 20 graduate assistants in the university’s Housing Department participated in emergency response and preparedness training at the Faulkner County Office of Emergency Management on Aug. 4-6.
The training is a part of the Community Emergency Response Team Program, which educates people about disaster preparedness and how to respond to hazards that may impact their communities. CERT members can assist when professional responders are not available to help.
Students took part in sessions on disaster medical operations, terrorism, fire safety and small fire suppression, light search and rescue, and disaster psychology.
“In an event of a disaster on campus, we might have to rely on our own resources for a time while we wait for local, state and federal agencies to reach us with assistance,” said Arch Jones, director of organizational and community services for UCA Police Department.
Future CERT training will include faculty and staff, Jones said. Officials hope to have at least one CERT member in every building on campus.
Gared Croley, a graduate assistant, felt the training was crucial for the Housing Department.
“It was something that was definitely necessary and something that needs to be in place,” he said. “I have had a lot of first aid training in the past, but this was different. It taught you how to handle everything after the event – rescue victims trapped in a collapsed building, size up the scene, and how to cut off the utilities. We all know what our roles and responsibilities are to keep members of the community safe.”
Graduate assistants participated in a tornado scenario on the last day of training. They were divided in teams to conduct search and rescue at a school. Team members were told there were students waiting for rides and teachers were preparing for the next day when the tornado struck the school at 3:45 p.m. The tornado knocked down walls and collapsed ceilings. There were many injuries and a few fatalities.
CERT members searched a dimly lit classroom for survivors. Some of the victims were found behind overturned tables, chairs and fallen debris. Those injured were carried out on gurneys and treated by graduate assistants in an area set up for triage.
The team was evaluated by the Faulkner County Office of Emergency Management staff.
Ray Owens, area coordinator for the Housing Department, said the training was informative and interactive.
“You really have to be prepared for the unexpected,” he said. “What I took away from the training is that preparedness is the key. There are steps we, as a university, have to take to make sure we can respond to a disaster.”
