To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: RE: [MSAR] Home Land Security
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2004 16:18:34 -0700
Title: Message
Jorene wrote
snip
" Are any team
members trained higher than basic First Aid? Wouldn't it be nice if the
SAR/MSAR EMT wasn't assigned to traffic control during a disaster with
multiple injured overwhelming local medical resources? "
Not sure what happens in California but in
my experience either training or real life ~~ our EMT's no matter what other
groups they belong to immediately offer their EMT skills in a potential
MCI - never heard of EMT's doing traffic duty whilst subjects needed help
!!!! I suspect doing so and ignoring people in medical need would be
considered negligence in our state, even as a first responder although not
legally bound as an EMT, ethically I am compelled to assist.
The forgoing makes me wonder if you expect
firefighters who happen to arrive as SAR members to watch the forest burn
down ? !!
Another issue; CERT ~
snip
" What is the local
potential during a SAR for finding the subject somehow trapped? (Just inside a
mine, landslide, old structure collapsed, etc.) Does the SAR / MSAR team have
training to safely extract that person? Basic CERT training would provide
those skills. "
It seems the CERT program is providing
much more in training and certification than I was previously aware - I am
VERY concerned that programs which provide minimal education at best are
suggested to be a qualification for "lay" people ( which is what CERT is ) to
attempt rescues that may be beyond their capabilities or equipment - collapsed
structures are not the places for amateurs to be playing .! Ditto mines
or landslides - YES CERT will give them a basic understanding of safety issues
but lets keep it in perspective .
Fortunately most SAR teams are educated
and know vastly more about emergencies than citizens who have a smattering of
civil defense ! Apart from anything else if a CERT person finds and
begins extracting a person from the collapsed structure you have the
danger to them of further collapse but also the danger of moving the subject
without trained medical help and presumably equipment.
My understanding - and I am willing to be
corrected - is CERT is a 20 hour course to educate citizens how to assist in
the event of a disaster in their locale - urban/suburban , it is a tiny
course in comparison to training SAR volunteers undertake and study no
matter where they practice, the implication that emergency management will
require CERT qualification before considering a SAR team is I think
ridiculous !
Quote from FEMA " The Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to
respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen,
CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate
assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site.
CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the
safety of the community."
I am all in favor of CERT but not the way
Jorene wishes to imply their superior skills over SAR teams - I beg to
differ.
Now your CERT qualified person directing
traffic to free up the EMT - that would make sense :-)
Ian
Ian Vowles
Colorado Mounted Rescue
SARTECH II, III , Evaluator,
Licensed Instructor ISAR FUNSAR,
Examiner/Coordinator SARTECH II + III.