Joyce Kane - Special to the Sun

This is the second in a series of articles following some of the Kern Valley High students as they take part in SERT training course.

On Friday, Feb. 1, the ECHO (Exploring Careers in Health Occupations) students at Kern Valley High School began their second module of SERT (Student Emergency Response Team) training, which is Fire Suppression and Safety.

Kern Valley High School junior Tommy Register listens to Dean Ott of KRV CERT during a recent SERT training session at Kern Valley High School.

The curriculum for the SERT course, which takes place in Tom Evans’ fourth-period ECHO Health Technology class every Friday, was adapted for Kern Valley High School by Vickie Stacy, ECHO coordinator, and Tom Klein, the Kern River Valley CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) originator who brought CERT to the valley in 2004.

KRV CERT is a group of Kern Valley residents who have volunteered their time to train under FEMA guidelines and assist first responders when a disaster strikes. CERT was first started by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985. The group trains ordinary citizens in safety, disaster prevention and preparedness so that in the event of a catastrophic emergency such as a flood or earthquake, people will be able to help their community as well as the first responders.

Students under the age of 18 who graduate from the SERT program will be able to help first responders in a disaster situation, but they must be supervised by an adult CERT member. Every student in the class who graduates will be certified by FEMA to assist CERT members. When each student turns 18, they can become a CERT member without being re-certified.

The ECHO students are doing well and moving quickly through the SERT instruction course, which has eight modules. In their first class, Stacy, a certified KRV CERT member and trainer, gave the students an introduction about what a disaster is. In their second class, Tom Klein taught disaster preparedness, including escape plans and how to shut off gas and water. He explained the CERT motto, 'The greatest good for the greatest number of people.'

A junior in the ECHO program, said the SERT training has 'given me a different view on stuff.' He said he was surprised to learn one of their priorities must be to keep themselves safe in an emergency. Team members don’t venture into unsafe buildings to rescue people or do CPR for lengthy periods of time. Klein explained that in a large-scale disaster many people will need help and that SERT training has its limitations. All certified CERT team members are covered by the Good Samaritan law if the team members perform only what they’ve learned.

In their last class, the students learned more about disaster preparedness and how to do a 'hot lap,' which is a tour around a damaged building or home.

A 17-year-old student said she wants to be an RN. She asked her counselor to be put into the ECHO program, even though most students start as sophomores. She says learning a lot in SERT class. 'I liked that they can get you ready for emergencies at home,' she said.

The students also learned how to put together an emergency supply kit, for both home and school. 'I like that you can help out even when you’re not here at school,'said Susan.

Students also learned there are white emergency buckets in every KVHS classroom. (They are to include water, a first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, paper, pen, blanket and a map of the escape route out of the high school.)

SERT students were challenged to create a design for a patch they can wear on their sleeves. One brought in a detailed sketch of the letters 'SERT' with a caduceus staff, the emblem of the medical profession.

Linda, another motivated junior in the ECHO program, said, 'I had horrible grades in elementary and middle school. Now I’m trying really hard and I want to succeed.' She said her current GPA is 3.6 and hopes to attend a college in the Los Angeles area. Last month she had an up-close-and-personal look at surgery at Kern Valley Hospital. 'I like the rush,' she said. 'I like staying on my toes. I don’t mind blood.'

On Friday, the students learned how to shut off electrical breakers in their homes, and about hazardous materials, different types of fires and the equipment used to extinguish them. They learned the fire suppression acronym, 'L-I-E-S.' (Limit the amount of hazardous materials stored to the absolute minimum; Isolate - store hazardous materials in a separate, locked cabinet whenever possible; Eliminate -get rid of hazardous materials as soon as they are no longer needed. Separate-do not store potential reactants together, for example, oxidizers with flammables, or bleach with ammonia.)

Mary, another ambitious ECHO junior intent on becoming a paramedic and working as an EMT while she goes to college, is proud of being in SERT training. 'It makes me feel important,' she said. 'I’ll be certified to help. I just really like to help people’Äîthat’s what I want to make of my life.'

Next week, the class will learn to use a fire extinguisher outdoors. 'I’m really excited to get more into the hands-on stuff,' she said. Klein also assigned the students to check to see if their circuit breakers are properly labeled at home.