Lakeside CERT Rises to New Heights

Lakeside, CA -

The Lakeside Fire District’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) continues to improve with each passing month. With nearly 80 active members, this invaluable program adds greatly to the disaster response capabilities of the community. Citizens trained as CERT volunteers learn and practice skills to help their families and neighborhoods to not only be better prepared for emergencies, but also how to organize a response to local and widespread disasters.

Lakeside Fire Captain Chuck Palmore briefs CERT members before the exercise.

The team recently conducted refresher training and an exercise at the fire district’s River Park Fire Station and administrative complex on Lakeside Avenue. Rescue, medical triage, and emergency communications were practiced with assistance from the district’s other active community service groups, the Logistics Volunteer (LVG) and Communications Volunteer (CVG) Groups.

CERT members practice rescue skills.

 

Lakeside Fire Captain Chuck Palmore and Engineer-Paramedic Lance Buford organized a full day of activities which kept the teams busy. Multiple scenarios were presented to challenge the CERT members’ skills and abilities which emphasized teamwork and helped all the participants become better prepared for the “real thing.”

Citizen responders are faced with multiple "victims" requiring triage.

The next CERT academy is anticipated to occur next spring. For more information on the program or to submit your interest in attending the next academy, please visit the district’s web site at http://www.lakesidefire.net.

Engineer-Paramedic Lance Buford conducts an "After-Action Review" to discuss lessons learned.

Post by: Lakeside Division Chief Jim Kirkpatrick

Photos by: Lakeside LVG

Lakeside CERT and CVG Radio Map El Monte Valley

Lakeside CERT and CVG members brief prior to taking to the field

On Sunday, July 13, volunteers spent their afternoon serving the citizens of Lakeside in a rather unusual way…grabbing HAM radios and driving throughout El Monte Valley. The effort was to “map” the valley for amateur radio communications in the event of a significant emergency.

Radio communication is often affected by terrain. Knowing where radio “dead spots” are located, as well as areas of strong communication, can make all the difference in a disaster. Having these locations mapped in advance can save valuable time and assist in saving lives.

Radio signal strength is measured in different areas of El Monte Valley

To aid in this effort, members of the Lakeside Fire District’s Communication Volunteer Group (CVG) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) took to the streets and airwaves in a field exercise. Organized by CVG member Gordon Shackelford, these volunteers drove their personal vehicles to pre-designated spots in the valley and checked out their ability to communicate directly with the “Annex” fire facility located next to the fire station on Lakeside Avenue.

Volunteers were sent to several test locations in the valley

After a couple hours of testing and data collection, the volunteers concluded their efforts and debriefed. The data will be analyzed and eventually displayed on a map in the “Radio Shack” of the Annex. In the event of a major emergency the information on the map will direct CERT and CVG members to areas of good communication to speed response and recovery.

Volunteers check in for signal strength testing

While these volunteers come from two different groups, their objectives are the same - to assist their community in the event of a disaster. CERT personnel are taught disaster response skills such as light rescue and first aid. CVG personnel are tasked with establishing communications on amateur radio bands through a radio network (or “net”) and organize communication between CERT teams in the field. Both programs are vital parts of the District’s disaster response plan and we can’t thank these volunteers enough for their hard work and continued efforts. 

Test results were carefully recorded

For more information on both programs, please go to the District’s website www. lakesidefire.net. Information on the monthly “Emergency Net”, can be obtained by emailing radionet@lakesidefire.com.

Story and photos by: Lakeside Division Chief Jim Kirkpatrick