18 Graduate From Whitfield CERT Academy 12, Making Total Of 226

  • Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The 18 graduates of Whitfield CERT Academy 12 take a break for a class photo in front of a Dalton Fire Department truck.
The 18 graduates of Whitfield CERT Academy 12 take a break for a class photo in front of a Dalton Fire Department truck.
The number of graduates from Whitfield County’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training since 2010 reached 226 after Academy 12.

Eighteen volunteers completed the disaster preparedness training course that started May 14 at Whitfield Emergency Management Agency and continued May 16-17 at Dalton State College Brown Center.

Academy 12 was unique, according to EMA Deputy Director Jeff Ownby.

“We have changed gears,” he said. “We use the CERT materials and equipment to offer disaster preparedness training to the community, but at the end of the course the students decide if they want to become an official CERT Responder.
If not that’s okay; they can still use the training to help themselves, family and neighbors during disasters.” 

Limited equipment is issued to those who attend the course, and those that decide to join the CERT Responder Team are given updated equipment. “This helps us make the most of our grant funds, which is the sole source of funding for Whitfield CERT,” Deputy Director Ownby said.

All the students receive a “Take Care Kit” which EMA has put together as a starter disaster preparedness kit into buckets donated by a local business. The kit includes 4 in 1 tool, triangular bandage, two roll gauzes, four gauze pads, mylar blanket, two dust masks, 6 in 1 screwdriver, roll of duct tape, poncho, safety glasses, light stick, hand warmers, and work gloves.

“This is a starter kit,” Deputy Director Ownby said, “and we encourage our students to add and build on the kit based on the GA Ready recommendations at http://ready.ga.gov/build-a-kit/.”

Of the 18 students that completed Academy 12, many have decided to become CERT Responders, according to Deputy Director Ownby.

“This means they want to continue their education and be eligible for deployments,” he said. “This requires more effort of the volunteer including a background check, mandatory FEMA independent study courses and other various training requirements. Whitfield CERT provides continuing education each month for CERT Responders, and CERT is very active in the community.”

In fact, on June 13 and 20, CERT will be out assisting the Whitfield County Fire Department and the American Red Cross with a Smoke Detector Drive. CERT members also helped the county fire department with the recent Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation Boot Drive.

Deputy Director Ownby and Amy Cooley with EMA coordinated and instructed a majority of CERT Academy 12, but Dalton Fire Department Company 1 with Lead Instructor Greg Metcalf taught the Fire and Rescue portion of the course.

Other instructors included Whitfield Fire Department Firefighters Lee Coker and Cody Ruddell. CERT Responders Christian Chadwick and Christina Byrd also assisted with the final disaster scenario. Students form Dalton High School assisted as role players and patients. 

“Special thanks to Ken Wiggins and his class at Dalton High for participating,” Deputy Director Ownby said. “Ken is among Whitfield CERT Alumni Academy 1 and teaches students disaster preparedness at Dalton High. Also special thanks for Dalton State College for allowing us to use their facilities for the training activities. And special thanks for Dalton Fire, Whitfield Fire and all the local public safety for continuing support of the CERT program.” 

The graduates learned about Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety and Fire Extinguishers, First Aid and Disaster Medical, Light Search and Rescue, Incident Command, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism Awareness, and more.

“CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own, and their actions can and do make a difference,” Deputy Director Ownby said. “While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger, therefore minimizing their risk of bodily injury and simply becoming another victim.”

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Whitfield CERT uses various instructors from local public safety who are experts in various fields and use their real world public safety knowledge and experience to give CERT members a true perspective of what to expect during disaster and emergency incidents.

CERT Academy 12 roster:  Bob Anderson, Savannah Bartley, Earlene Deeter, Mary Elbell, Clemencia Ixcoy, James Ledford, Mandy Lermon, Rachel Patterson, Russell Stryder, Scott Sosebee, Glenda Whisenant, Matt Whitesell, Melissa Whitesell, Ashley Williams, Kim Wilson, Max Woodard, Carla Wright, and Karen Young.
Dalton Fire Department Firefighter 3 Greg Metcalf instructs Search and Rescue techniques during CERT Academy 12
Dalton Fire Department Firefighter 3 Greg Metcalf instructs Search and Rescue techniques during CERT Academy 12
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