CERT Update

By Mark Wardell for Westside News

The Class That Almost Was

Well, things certainly changed fast. I wish I could tell you this was just an elaborate April Fools' joke, but unfortunately, it wasn’t. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the CERT training series that was scheduled to begin on April 9th has been postponed.

I know many of you were looking forward to diving into those life-saving skills, and I share in that disappointment. However, the need for preparedness hasn't changed, and we are already working on getting a new schedule on the books. I will be sure to keep you informed as soon as the new dates are set. For now, if you would like to get your name on a waiting list so you are among the first to know when the next class is announced, please reach out to me via email.

West Salem Bi-Monthly(ish) Team Meeting

Our next meeting will be held on May 16th, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m, at the Roth’s Event Center (behind the Roth’s on Wallace Rd here in West Salem). At this meeting, you can meet your neighbors, and learn about CERT. Our main presentation will focus on some first aid basics and discuss details about the upcoming deployment exercise coming on May 30^th. This meeting is open to everyone, not just CERT members!

West Salem Bi-Monthly(ish) Team Meeting

Even though the class is on hold, our West Salem team is still moving full steam ahead. Our next general meeting will be held on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Roth’s Event Center (tucked behind the Roth’s Fresh Market on Wallace Rd).

These meetings are the heart of our local program. It’s a low-pressure environment where you can meet your neighbors and see what CERT is all about without any formal commitment. For this session, our main presentation will focus on some first aid basics. We’ll cover simple, practical techniques that anyone can use to help a family member or neighbor during a minor emergency. We will also be spending a good portion of the morning discussing the final logistical details for our big deployment exercise coming up at the end of the month. As always, these meetings are open to everyone, not just CERT members!

Spring Deployment Exercise: We Need You!

While our new trainees are learning the ropes, I also want to remind our current CERT members and the community at large to save the date for our Spring Deployment Exercise on Saturday, May 30th, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This is a full-scale opportunity to practice our skills in the field. We are still looking for "spontaneous volunteers" and “actors” to play victims (it’s easy and fun); it’s a great way to see CERT in action without having to take a six-week class.

This is a full-scale field exercise where our team practices everything from radio communications to light search and rescue. But we can't do it alone: we need the community’s help to make the training realistic.It’s a bit like community theater with a purpose! It is an easy, fun way to spend an afternoon, and it gives you a front-row seat to see how a disaster response is organized right here in our neighborhood.

Contact Information

If you have questions about this article, preparedness, or would like to inquire about joining CERT, please contact me, Mark Wardell, at PNMarkW2@gmail.com. I am also available to schedule presentations for your group, including HOAs, neighborhood groups, and communities of faith. You may also find more information about Salem CERT by visiting SalemOregonCERT.org.