Lakeside Fire Hosts CERT Drill

On Saturday, February 27th, Lakeside Fire Protection District Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) conducted a simulated natural disaster at the Meadows Mobile Home Park. The drills consisted of a variety of scenario based exercises with an attempt to simulate what CERT members would experience during a real activation.

CERT Members practice First Aid Skills

The CERT members received a text message CERT activation, which described a natural disaster that caused damage to the Meadows MHP. When the CERT members arrived on scene, they immediately established the Incident Command System. The incident command system is the same system structure that is used throughout the nation by emergency response agencies to manage emergency responses.

CERT Members practice extricating patients

 The exercises the CERT members trained in were: damaged structure with gas leaks, injured victims dressed in moulage (makeup to simulate injuries), multiple fires, traffic control, and conducting radio communication through the proper channels.

The Community Center was transformed into a Command Post

Lakeside CERT members were professional and resourceful throughout the drill. The Lakeside FPD CERT members are progressively growing. I would like to thank everyone for their participation.

CERT Members having an After Action Review

Story and pictures provided by Engineer Lance Buford, LFPD CERT Coordinator

Firefighters Rescue Man Injured in Flood Channel

Lakeside:

Early on the morning on May 23, 2014 Lakeside Engine 1 and Medic 2 were called for reports of a person that had fallen into the flood channel under Hwy 67.

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map

Engine 1 arrived, and with the assistance of the SDSO, were able to locate the patient. The patient was a male that was injured in the bottom of the flood channel that runs under Hwy 67.  The patient had fallen approximately 20 + feet to the concrete bottom of the flood channel.

The patient fell onto the concrete from the edged of the channel.

To access the patient crews had to place a ladder into the channel and descend it.  Once the patient was accessed it was clear that he would need to be placed in spinal precautions because of his injuries.  The spinal precautions combined with the high vertical walls of the channel meant the patient would have to be hoisted out of the flood channel in a stokes basket on a backboard.   Engine 1 requested that Rescue 3 respond to the scene to bring the necessary equipment to move the patient.

R3 crews work to set up a mechanical lifting system

The lifting system requires a long section of rope and a great deal of specialized hardware

Rescue 3 arrived at the scene and assisted the crews on scene with setting up a ladder-slide and a rope lifting system that would provide a mechanical advantage to pull the patient out of the flood channel.  Once the patient was lifted out of the channel he was transported to the hospital by M2.

Once the patient was up he was moved to a gurney for transport to the medic unit 

This call was an example of one of the technical rescue situations Lakeside firefighters are capable of carrying out.  It is a low-frequency high-risk situation that requires regular training and review to stay proficient with these skills.  This rescue was carried out without any issues and the patient was successfully removed from the channel and transported to the hospital.

R3 and E1 crews put the rescue equipment back onto Rescue 3 after the call

Photos and story by Captain Bernie Molloy

Attention Lakeside CERT Team Members....!

All Lakeside CERT Members,

For the last 10 plus years, Lakeside Fire Protection District’s participation in the CERT program has been equivalent to a train and release program. We have talked about additional training and refresher training but have not been able to deliver these to you so far. We are now in the position to take the program to the next level. We will be having two meetings in March that will go over the new plans and topics below. Please make every effort to attend one of the March meeting dates to learn some new information and reconnect with us all.

March meeting Topics:
1) Understanding the future of the Lakeside CERT program
2) Registering with the County Office of Emergency Services (OES)
3) Completing a county Disaster Service Worker (DSW) form
4) Certification renewal
5) Neighborhood CERT organization
6) Disaster Communications plans
7) Checking backpacks
8) New CERT assignments

March CERT Meetings:
Dates: March 8th and 15th (choose one to attend)

Time: 1:00 – 3:00

Location: Lakeside Fire Station 2
12216 Lakeside Avenue
Lakeside, CA 92040

Attire: Casual, bring your backpack to check and share

CERT Program Manager
Lance Buford (Eng./FF)
(619) 390-2364

CERT Lead Instructor
Chuck Palmore (Captain)
(619) 390-2364

Lakeside CERT

Community Disaster Preparedness

Lakeside CERT Training

Lakeside, CA -

Disaster preparation and response classes will be held here in Lakeside beginning on Saturday, October 5, 2013. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact the Lakeside area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. 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.

Students learn about fire safety.

Lakeside currently has over 150 CERT members who have completed this training. They benefit by feeling more secure with the knowledge that they are better prepared for and know exactly what to do when the next large scale event impacts their community. If you would like to learn more about disaster preparedness please visit the Lakeside Fire website at http://www.lakesidefire.net and click on the CERT link to submit an interest form. You must be 18 years or older or of high school age and attending the training with a parent or guardian.

Knowing just what to do is all important following a disaster.

Submitted by: Lakeside Fire Captain Chuck Palmore, CERT program manager

Lakeside CERT Training Dates Announced

Lakeside, CA -

Lakeside Fire District CERT has announced training dates for 2013. The new CERT training class will be held on June 1, 15, 29, and July 13.

For more information, visit the district CERT web page here, or phone our office at 619-390-2350.

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District.

Lakeside CERT Training Starts Sept. 15th

There is still room available in the next Lakeside Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academy which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 15th.

CERT members are trained to safely extinguish small fires

The CERT program educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact Lakeside. Students are trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Training includes how to locate and treat injured disaster victims

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

  

Putting it all together

For more information and to register, please visit the CERT page on the Lakeside Fire District website at http://lakesidefire.net/lks_cert.php

Submitted By: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside CERT Coordinator 

Lakeside's 6th CERT Academy Graduates

The final day of training for the 6th Lakeside CERT Academy was a disaster. Literally. On Saturday July 24th, students participated in a disaster drill which simulated the aftermath of a major earthquake event. Team members used the skills that they learned in the 20 hour CERT course which they attended over four Saturdays in June and July. New knowledge in disaster preparedness, small fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue and team organization was put to the test during the two hour ordeal.
 

The group worked as a well organized team to turn a chaotic scenario into a scene of prioritized order. Twelve students of varied ages and backgrounds graduated following the final drill to become Lakeside's newest CERT members. Each volunteer was presented with a certificate, official I.D. badge and congratulations by Fire Chief Andy Parr after their successful course completion.

Congratulations Lakeside CERT Academy 6

Volunteer CERT members throughout the country play a vital role in disaster preparedness and response to act as the first line of rescue after a major disaster when local first responders are overwhelmed and until additional resources arrive. If you would like to learn how you can benefit from this valuable training, please visit the Lakeside Fire Protection District website HERE and fill out the CERT interest form or contact Ashleigh Copenhaver at 619-390-2350, extension 303 to register. New classes are now forming and scheduled to begin in September. You can learn more about the national CERT program HERE.

Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain

Another Series Of Quakes Shake The Area

Did you feel them? On Monday night June 14th, at approximately 9:26pm a series of earthquakes rattled the area. The tremors were centered 5 miles SE of Ocotillo in Imperial County with the largest measuring   5.7 in magnitude.
Visit the USGS Earthquake page for more detailed information about these quakes.


View Larger Map

Are you prepared for a disaster such as a large earthquake? Are you able to survive on your own for up to 72 hours while our local emergency service providers deal with overwhelming demands? If not, take advantage of the training offered by the Lakeside Fire District CERT program. Learn about disaster preparedness, fire safety, emergency medical techniques, search and rescue and much more. If preparedness is important to you, visit the Lakeside Fire District website and fill out an interest form.
Now is a good time to start being prepared.
Visit this story about Lakeside CERT on our blog.

Follow these links to other informative disaster preparedness websites:

Ready San Diego
San Diego Area American Red Cross
SD County Office of Emergency Services
Real Time Earthquake Information

Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain

Lakeside's 6th CERT Academy Begins Today

The first of four Saturday training sessions took place today at the Lakeside Fire Protection District's administration facility at 12365 Parkside Street. Twelve members of the community completed the initial five hours of the required 20 hour CERT disaster preparedness course to become registered San Diego County Emergency Disaster Workers. The full course provides the participant with instruction and hands-on training in the areas of disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism awareness and CERT organization.

New CERT members learn to work as a team with limited supplies and time to complete a project.

This will be the 6th group or "Academy" to have been trained in Lakeside and will bring the total number of local CERT members to well over 60. The topics covered in this first session included how to prepare yourself, your family and your home for the disasters most likely to occur in our community including wildfires, earthquakes, floods and terrorism to name just a few.

A fire suppression team makes quick work of these flames.

Fire safety and the use of fire extinguishers to suppress small fires preventing them from becoming BIG fires completed today's training.
To learn more about CERT and to inquire about how you can take advantage of this valuable training, visit lakesidefire.net. Also visit the CitizenCorps CERT website HERE for a detailed description of the nationwide program.

Another suppression team under the watchful eyes of Fire Captain Steve Streck and his crew.

Follow these links to other informative disaster preparedness websites:


Ready San Diego
San Diego Area American Red Cross
SD County Office of Emergency Services
Real Time Earthquake Information


Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain