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	NERT Training for Kids! Patricia Yuen San Francisco Fire Department NERT Coordinator Several times a year, people call the NERT office and ask “Can my kid(s) come to the training with me?” First, I ask, “How old is your child”? Next I ask, “Can they sit through a 2 hour plus lecture?” Ninety nine percent of the time, my FINAL answer is, “NERT training is for everyone, ages 8 through 80.” In some cases, the children are 6 or 7. What do I say then? My answer becomes “NERT Training is for everyone.”
There is a reason behind making exceptions. I’ve seen how NERT affects the lives of children at any age. Children sit by their parents during the lecture. Mom or Dad will explain what the instructor has said. The activities during lecture are very practical as well. Blanket carries, cribbing, and a blind folded search is fun for everyone. But the unanimous “Kid Favorite” is still the disaster medicine and triage scenario in Class#6. The kids love to be made up with make up to play the “victims”. It’s a chance for them to be as crazy as they would like. In reality, they are learning a valuable lesson.
	Four years ago, Eric Yip was the first child to receive his NERT certificate. He was seven years old when he began the training. By the time he received the certificate, his eighth birthday had just passed. Today at age 12, not only does he still participate as a victim in Class#6 and encourage his younger brother Evan to come also, he is studying for the Novice Tech HAM radio license which requires learning MORSE code. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the support of his parents, Susan and Andy Yip. Susan is the Balboa Terrace NERT Coordinator. Not only does she plan the neighborhood drills in October, she coordinates the HAM Licensing Classes, CPR/First Aid training classes, and volunteers at fairs to recruit people to take the training. Thank you so much Susan.
Since 1999, the San Francisco Fire Department has been to Lincoln High School and the Life Learning Academy twice to teach the entire NERT program. Mr. Reed Russell from Lincoln H.S. and Lt. Mike DeLane of the Life Learning Academy contacted the NERT office. Each took out time from their own classes so that the Fire Department could come and teach the kids the NERT program. The kids were fourteen and fifteen years old. How do we continue a relationship with these kids to keep them active in NERT? Keeping a good database is a must. Our office sends an invitation along with a parental permission slip to their homes. The invitation is to our annual Citywide Earthquake drill in April. The kids can play the “victim” role or be on their Neighborhood NERT team. (Please mark your calendars, April 21st, 2001, at Marina Middle School in SF, from 9am to 12pm – our Citywide Earthquake drill)
	Children are a wonderful resource to the program in many ways. They bring with them so much enthusiasm. They are a reason for their parents to be more active with the NERT program as we all wait for the “Big One”.

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