CERT training (act fast)

Received from EOC SNAP mailing list today:

The Seattle Office of Emergency Management is taking applications for the Winter CERT Training Course. 

About CERT

Following a major disaster, emergency services that people have come to rely on will be overwhelmed and unable to meet the increased demand.  The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training is a series of courses that are intended to prepare people to take action in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.  The training is a combination of skills based classes that will teach participants about Fire Suppression, Utility Control, Light Search and Rescue and Disaster First Aid, in addition to basic tenants of Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Response.

Because CERT training is designed so each class builds on the previous one, it is important that participants be available to attend all of the classes.  The schedule for the Winter CERT class is as follows.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013                       6-9 PM           

Tuesday, March 5, 2013                               6-9 PM

Saturday, March 9, 2013                              9 AM – 1 PM

Saturday, March 16, 2013                            9 AM – 1 PM

Tuesday, March 19, 2013                            6-9 PM

Tuesday, March 26, 2013                            6-9 PM

Tuesday, April 2, 2013                                 5-9 PM

The CERT class is filled on a first come first serve basis.  We will establish a waiting list that will be used ONLY for the winter class.  To register please send your request to SNAP@seattle.gov .  If you have questions please contact Cathy Wenderoth at cathy.wenderoth@seattle.gov or 233-5096.  To learn more about the CERT program you can visit their website at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/about.shtm.

First Aid / CPR Training

On Saturday, Jan 26th, 2013 more than 70 folk gathered in the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society's practice space at Crown Hill Center to complete their American Heart Association First Aid and CPR certifications. Everybody passed which means that Ballard, Crown Hill and points in between now have 70 plus more people trained in First Aid and CPR. The training was provided through a Seattle Department of Neighborhoods NMF Small and Simple Fund grant. We worked with the Seattle Office of Emergency Management to get the grant. Training was provided by Prevention MD, and included two short online courses plus 5 hours hands-on practice with a great group of instructors.

Thanks to everybody who participated and gave the time to make our communities safer and more prepared for the next big disaster.

About 2/3 of the roomful of trainees

Finding proper hand position on the chest

Cheryl from Loyal Heights and Martha from Central Ballard Residents Association

Sunset Hill contingent working on 3 person CPR with AED

Dawn demonstrating hand placement for CPR

Proper disposable glove removal

"Dummies" for practicing what to do with choking infants

Tracy Connelly from Seattle Dept of Emergency Management

Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs Educational Summit

Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs Educational Summit

Making the most of your Hub

Saturday, Nov 3, 2012 8:30 a.m. – noon
Alki Community Center, 5817 SW Stevens St (West Seattle)

8:30 – Hub site(s) available for visiting outside
8:30 – New to Hubs orientation (overview of Hubs)
9:00 – Welcome, introductions, logistics, etc
9:15 – Disaster Characteristics – what will it look like in the responder areas?
10:00 – Break
10:15 – Panel presentations and Q & A
10:15 – How to set up the best sheltered Hub site
10:30 – How to stay dry, warm and hydrated for multiple days
10:45 – How to identify and deal with hazards aroundyou
11:00 – How to deal with the people around you 11:30– Q & A for all speakers
11:45 – Closing comments.

We love our volunteers!
More Info: Cindi Barker 933-6968 cbarker@qwest.net

Click for full-size

Preparedness for Pet Owners

Seattle has perhaps more pets per capita than a lot of other cities. I know many folk who are very devoted to their household pets. Have we thought to include them in our emergency plans? What if you're at work when disaster strikes? Can a neighbor get into your house and take care of them? It's the same principles which work for helping out your neighbors. Seattle Office of Emergency Management has published a leaflet "Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners" which you might want to pick up to learn more. Below is a short section from the leaflet.

PET PREPAREDNESS
All responsible pet owners need to think about how they will take care of their animals when disaster strikes. The same advice for human preparedness goes for preparing for your pets. Be prepared to take care of yourself, your family (including pets) and your neighbors for a minimum of three days without any help from
the City resources.

For health and space reasons, pets are not allowed in public emergency shelters. However, in most states, trained guide dogs for persons with disabilities will be allowed to stay in emergency shelters with their owners.

PETS ARE FAMILY TOO!
Make arrangements for your pets as part of your household disaster planning. If you must evacuate your home, it’s always best to take your pets with you. If, as a last resort, you have to leave your pets behind, make sure you have a plan to ensure their care.

Seattle Public Library Urban Self Reliance Workshops

The Seattle Public Library is sponsoring a series of workshops on Urban Self-Reliance in October. Of particular interest is the one on Creating a Community Disaster Hub held at the Northgate Library on October 20th from 1-3 PM.

This workshop will discuss what neighborhoods just like yours are doing to build their hubs and a safety net that can be used in the event of any emergency -- whether it is a Cascadia quake or a winter storm.

We are in the process of creating six hubs for Ballard and Crown Hill. This is the perfect opportunity to learn what a hub is and how it can help you and your neighbors, as well as how you can help.

No registration is required. Just show up!

CERT Training - Update - already full!

The following training filled up in 4 hours!

Seattle's first public offering of CERT training has officially opened.  As many of you know The Seattle Office of Emergency Management as piloted two CERT trainings over the last year and are proud to offer up their first “official” CERT training for the City of Seattle.  The following is the schedule of Fall class:

CERT Training Schedule

Fall 2012

Thursday, October 4, 2012                                         Introduction and Disaster Preparedness

6:00-9:00 PM                                                                    Seattle Office of Emergency Management

                                                                                                105 5^th Ave S., Seattle

Saturday, October 6, 2012                                          Utility Control and Fire Suppression

9:00-11:00 AM                                                                 Southwest Community Center,

2800 SW Thistle

Thursday, October 11, 2012                                      CERT Organization & Incident Command

6:00 – 9:00 PM                                                                 Seattle Office of Emergency Management

                                                                                                105 5^th Ave S., Seattle

Saturday, October 20, 2012                                       Light Search and Rescue

8:30 – 3:00 PM                                                                 Southwest Community Center

                                                                                                2800 SW Thistle

Thursday, October 25, 2012                                      Terrorism & Disaster Psychology

6:00 – 9:00 PM                                                                 Seattle Office of Emergency Management

                                                                                                105 5^th Ave S., Seattle

Saturday, October 27, 2012                                       Disaster First Aid

8:30-5:00 PM                                                                    Southwest Community Center

                                                                                                2800 SW Thistle

Thursday, November 1, 2012                                   Review & Final

5:30 – 9:00 PM                                                                 Seattle Office of Emergency Management

                                                                                                105 5^th Ave S., Seattle

A few things to keep in mind as you consider this opportunity:

·         You must complete all classes and pass the final to receive your CERT certificate.  If you know that you will be unable to attend a class we would ask that you hold off registering until you can make all classes.  The only exception to this is if you have taken one of our skills classes in the last year, you may choose to not take it again.

·         You may only register for yourself

·         Registration is on a first come/first serve basis and space is limited.

To register please go to SNAP@seattle.gov , We will have a wait list for the class in case of last minute cancellations, but that list  WILL NOT be maintained after the class has started.  We will be offering CERT training again in the Spring of 2013.

Exploring the role of seaplanes in disaster response

Prompted by a July 18th King 5 report that the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association is working with emergency responders and Whatcom County residents to see what role seaplanes could have in removing injured residents from remote or cut off areas,  the Ballard HubCaps reached out to the Seattle EOC managers and our advisory committee and asked "What role might seaplanes have for areas that become isolated in Ballard and the rest of Seattle?"

We have started a fascinating discussion about this - stay tuned!