Students learn how to respond to emergencies during extensive CERT training

Cherokee Technology Center students put their search and rescue training into action during a recent disaster simulation as part of becoming a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member. The school had 38 students graduate Thursday morning from the CERT program. A group of high school students will be prepared if a tornado strikes Cherokee County.

Criminal justice instructor Neely Swofford put Cherokee Technology Center students through a mock disaster scenario Feb. 23 involving a tornado. The scenario covered reallife emergency threats such as loss of power to manufacturing plants and damage to schools and neighborhoods.

The disaster simulation required students to organize themselves into teams within five minutes of receiving assignments. The students worked through a series of drills that involved putting out small fires, providing basic medical aid, and "cribbing," a search-and-rescue technique used by emergency personnel to remove victims from an accident scene.

Members of the Gaffney Fire Department, volunteer fire departments and county emergency operations were on hand to supervise the students during the disaster simulation.

"The students did not know who their team members were until the last minute. Once the scenario was explained, the students had three to five minutes to elect a leader before starting the disaster simulation," Swofford said. "We created a very realistic situation so students could learn how to work together and can help respond when there is a real emergency in their community."

The exercise was one of the final steps involved in training the students to become certified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members. Students took the course over several weeks and also had to pass a written exam to become certified.

Cherokee Technology Center had 38 students graduate from the CERT program in a ceremony held Thursday morning. The students are taking Swofford's criminal justice and protective services classes this year.

The graduation ceremony was attended by state CERT Director Colleen Mixson, who was visiting Cherokee County that same day.

CERT is a national security effort to have a group of trained volunteers in local communities capable of responding to disasters when the situation prevents an immediate response from law enforcement and medical teams.

The newly trained students will be entered into a CERT database listing volunteers available to respond in the event of an emergency.

"One of the goals of CERT is to do the greatest good for the greatest number," Swofford said. "The students who took the CERT training come from all over the county. We had students from Blacksburg, Gaffney, Grassy Pond, Corinth, Buffalo and other local communities. This a valuable course that is designed to teach students how to take care of themselves, their families and neighbors in an emergency situation."