In the Beginning....

I saw the announcement for CERT class and thought it would be interesting. So I cleared my schedule and attended class. I fell in love. I love the subject matter, I love the fire guys, I love the people I went to class with. And because I love my family, each week I went home from class and did something to help my family be a little more prepared.

First week, I went home and we talked and made a family plan. I got online and went to bereadyutah.gov and used the site to print off our family plan and also a card with our information on it that we could each carry in our wallet or purse.

Second week, fire week, I bought fire extinguishers for the house and cars.

Third and fourth week was medical. I practiced my bandaging skills on my hubby and made first aid kits for the house and cars.

Fifth week, search and rescue: I bought a couple 2 x 4's and we cut them into pieces for cribbing. Over the summer as I had some 4x4's left from a project, we added to it.

Sixth week, CERT organization: I asked a lot of questions and left class feeling overwhelmed and confused as to what to do next. The teachers said that how we organize our neighborhood is up to us. Two of my classmates and I started working up a plan for our neighborhood, typed up cover letters, put on our vests and started walking our neighborhood. We passed out information on CERT, explained what we would like to do for a neighborhood plan and got to know our neighbors. We also set up a display at a preparedness fair and talked to anyone who came by. This took a couple of months.

Seventh week is disaster psychology and terrorism class. Interesting. When they showed a video to emphasis that we are going to see things that are going to be upsetting. I cried. I admit it. All I could see was that a mother lost a child. If I can relate it to me in any way, I will cry. I went home hugged my kids, put all our important documents in a binder and worked on my plan to round out my storage. I set some more preparedness goals.

Mock disaster week was enlightening. Kids came and acted as our victims and we rescued and treated them. It was cold and chaotic. And as we ran the scenario the second time, it cemented in my brain that the more we practiced, the easier this would be to deal with if we had to do it in real time. After I got home that night, and for the next three nights, I woke up in a panic in the middle of the night having dreams that there was a disaster and all those kids that I know, were hurt. I always have been fabulous in a crisis and can do whatever needs to be done but when the crisis is done, I weep. My way of handling stress. Apparently, mock or real, my brain can't tell the difference and it bothered me. I did recognize though, that with repetition, this would be easier in the long run on me because it would bother me less. I could see that more people need to know these skills and about this program. I decided that I was going to help make this program as successful it could be and so I went to the next class. And the next and the next and so on.

Now, I feel like the CERT mascot. I go to class and I help with the activities. I help things stay organized and do whatever odd job needs to be done. I connect with the people who come to class and answer questions. I talk and walk CERT.

 I want to help people be more prepared and so I try to spread the word.

Because I know that one can make a difference.