MAT-SU — When the next disaster or emergency strikes, will teenagers across the state be prepared to assist and know what to do? If safety organizations, school districts and the office of emergency management have their way they will. 

Bea Adler, with the Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services, invited the national Teen Community Emergency Response Team (Teen CERT) trainers to visit Alaska and teach a group of potential trainers how to deliver the curriculum to youth in grades 7-12. 

The trainers from Eastern Michigan University, who developed this program, say it has helped build a culture of respect, trust and confidence among the youth in their communities. They shared their success, experiences and knowledge through three days of skills training.

DEBRA McGHAN/Courtesy photo Palmer Middle School nurse Cathy Voran demonstrates a technique on Joe Sylvia at a recent Teen Community Emergency Response Team training.

Representatives from agencies and schools throughout the Mat-Su as well as Fairbanks, Kenai and Anchorage learned best practices for delivering this highly successful curriculum to Alaska teens. The goal is to prepare Alaska youth to assist during a disaster or emergency in their schools and communities.  

The Mat-Su Borough has the most active CERT trained teams in the state. More than 1,000 Valley residents have completed the training. During an emergency or disaster, these will be the people who will know how to assist their friends and neighbors who are not CERT trained.

Skip Lawver of Eastern Michigan University developed the Teen CERT curriculum in 2006 with a Federal Homeland Security Grant. The program has been shared with 23 states, more than 1,000 instructors and more than 10,000 teens. For Lawver, the success he’s seen comes in the form of students who report they have been able to use their training to ease pain, bring comfort and save lives in multiple events in their communities.

“When I see how these kids are empowered by learning to aid in times of real emergencies, that’s the greatest joy for me,” Lawver said.

Members of the Mat-Valley CERT trained team will be on hand to conduct demonstrations and relay competitions during the National Emergency Preparedness Month fair to be held at Mat-Su College Snodgrass Hall on Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free community fair will feature lots of hands-on activities to test your knowledge and skill and help you get prepared.

In addition there will be lots of valuable information, activities, workshops and vendor displays. Information on the Teen CERT program will be available to help residents find out how their teenagers can participate. Learn more at www.naoiak.org.

 

Debra McGhan is executive director of North America Outdoor Institute Safety and Environmental Education Programs. For more information, visit www.naoiak.org.