First on the Scene with SCERT
Ronald Nelson, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Los Altos High School

It is 11:19 in the morning and the campus is quiet as classes continue on toward the lunch break.  Staff and students participate in discussions and presentations, secure in the belief that they are safe from harm.  However, that calm could be interrupted at any time by an emergency or disaster.  A tornado or violent storm could appear over the school, breaking windows and downing trees or fences on the sports fields, as happened here five years ago.  An earthquake could occur, causing damage to buildings and utilities, trapping classes behind jammed doors. 

The Los Altos High School community realizes that we may have to rely on our own resources in the event of a disaster or emergency at school.  This is very apparent when one looks back at recent natural disasters in our state such as: the Whittier Narrows Earthquake of 1987; the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989; and the Northridge Earthquake of 1994.  When viewing videos of these disasters, citizens are performing much of the rescue work, as there are not enough emergency service workers to meet the needs.  Consequently, Los Altos High School is beginning to form a response team at school, which we call the School & Community Emergency Response Team (SCERT). 

The best, and numerically largest, assets that we can use to prepare ourselves are the students themselves.  We already have many students who are certified in standard or advanced levels of first aid and CPR, and some who are certified as lifeguards.  There are others who have taken or are interested in taking First Responder (FR) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) classes.  There are those who hope to become a firefighter or paramedic, or look to law enforcement as a career.  We are bringing individuals with these skills and abilities together into a team that will act in the event of a disaster or emergency at the school.   

From a concept developed by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, CERT now has become part of a national effort that encourages local government to prepare community members for the natural hazards that they face. Besides improving individual and family preparedness, CERT members work as neighborhood and workplace teams that can apply the skills learned in training to help others following a major disaster when professional responders are delayed or overwhelmed. CERT members also form a relationship with local emergency services and are a potential volunteer resource that can be used to perform special projects to improve a community’s preparedness. The “Connection” over the years has featured stories about these partnerships.

There are many advantages to bringing teens into a program like this.  They are quick and eager to learn, they enjoy the practical learning sessions, and they enjoy working with the various emergency service providers that assist in the teaching of the program.  Even more, they know their campus and its facilities better than any administrator.  They know the “ins and outs” of the cafeteria, gymnasium, storage locations, etc. They are able to reach out to and communicate better with other students because of the inherent comfort level of being a peer.  And, the other students feel more secure knowing that their peers are having a say in the safety and preparedness of the school.

When given the chance to act as adults and take on the responsibility, teens will impress you with their capabilities.  Those who volunteer for this type of program demonstrate an intense desire, and also a strong capability, to learn the skills required of emergency service personnel.  By providing the students with skills and knowledge that they can carry into the job market we hope to achieve a double effect, increasing the safety at school and improving the abilities of the students.

We are providing the students with experiences that will allow them help themselves and their schools in times of emergencies, while enhancing their ability for dealing with everyday life.  They are receiving training and certifications that will be usable in present and future job positions.  They are working in conjunction with members of the staff and administration to handle situations that may arise. 

The team concept and leadership are two key precepts they develop and practice throughout their SCERT experience.  Teamwork is particularly emphasized, as it is for professional emergency service personnel.  They learn to depend on each other’s skills, and to complement each other’s abilities.  They learn to trust those that they work with.  And they are taught that through teamwork each team member becomes capable of doing more than any one of them could ever be expected to do as an individual.

The students also understand that they are part of an experimental program, as LAHS is one of the first schools in the country to have students involved as formal members of the Response Team.  Thus far they have proven to be totally capable of whatever tasks they are given, and look forward to new challenges 

The basic program format comes from the FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course, followed by additional subjects and training.  This was done to allow them to operate smoothly at the school, and also in the community environment when working in conjunction with the CERT program run by the Los Altos Police Department. 

Their course outline as it stands now includes the subjects listed below:

Course Session Outline from the FEMA CERT Program (modified to fit school needs)

The total time involved, including simulation drills, is approximately 30 hours.

1. Disaster Preparedness

2.  Disaster Fire Suppression

3. Disaster Medicine I

4. Disaster Medicine II

5. Light Search & Rescue

6. Disaster Psychology – School Team Organization

7. Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) & Incident Command System (ICS) – Radio Usage & Procedures

8. Terrorism (following the new course module from FEMA)

9. LAHS Emergency Procedures

10. Disaster Simulation - Practical Skills Drill, includes Search & Rescue, Triage, and Medical Treatment Practice

Additional Training will include:

• Suicide Prevention and Intervention

• Red Cross CPR for Professional Rescuer and Community First Aid – and additional upper-level courses that team members may take on their own

• Performing simulation drills with Los Altos Police Hostage Negotiation and SWAT Teams

• Participating in all school emergency drills, and in local and county-wide drills as well

Also, several members of the team have been chosen as backups for the administration and security by learning where utility shutoffs are, about chemical storage at the school, and other vital information that would be needed by police or fire personnel.  These students have been trained for this because in an actual emergency, the upper level staff will, in case of a real emergency, be committed to other tasks.  While there always is a staff member to coordinate with emergency units, having these students as a backup is a definite advantage.

The SCERT concept is a work in progress, a learning process that requires regular review and adjustments as needed.  However, it is a concept that has proven itself over the past five years at two schools, a concept that can clearly improve the safety and preparedness of schools and communities around the country.  Through this program we hope to enhance the safety of our school while improving the capabilities of our students in and out of school.

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