CERT Refresher: Review #1 March 2025 — Emergency Preparedness Committee

The three topics discussed in our initial CERT educational session were:

Severe Bleeding. A quote from Unit 4 “Do not conduct a head-to-toe assessment if individual requires immediate care to prevent serious injury or death.” Does individuals look like they are bleeding? Does the situation appear safe?
Treatment is to apply direct pressure hard, deep pressure, even if painful to the injured person.
“If unable to stop bleeding by applying direct pressure or if EMS is delayed in arriving, a tourniquet may be a viable option to save a person from bleeding to death.” Use of a tourniquet is a last resort measure to at the very least slow down the bleeding.

Initially assess if an individual you see needs help with the airway. Assess by gently taping the shoulder and calling out calmly to a person. A conscious person will naturally arouse/ not needing help.
For an unconscious person, head tilt back, chin lift to assist in breathing. Do not aggressively hyper extend head/ neck area in case of a neck or spinal injury.

Providing comfort can occur physically and emotionally.
Physical comfort can occur by maintaining body temperature by keeping warm or cool (during summer months). Place something between individual and ground like cardboard or a blanket. Cover body with blanket, jacket if needed to maintain bodily temperature.
Emotional comfort can occur by providing eye contact, speaking softly, not excessively speaking meaning do not allow your anxiety to make the situation more anxiety producing. Do not disappear without explaining to individual you need to walk away to do something.

A “Death Triangle” is what can occur if severe bleeding, not adequately breathing and hypothermia occurs.
Need to prioritize/ identify what can kill someone else.
“RPM’s”. When respirations are greater than 30 breaths/ per minute. When perfusion is greater than 2 seconds by checking fingertips. When mental status is affected by not being able to follow directions.
There are four triage colors. “Red” needs immediate attention. “Yellow” delayed attention; individual can improve or worsen. “Green” minor attention when individual has the ability to get up, walk, follow directions. “Black” individual is dead.