On Saturday, November 20, 2021, Antelope Valley District Troop 76 had 7 Scouts, along with several of their parents, participated in an emergency drill with the CERT team run by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The troop participates in several of these scenarios each year.
Participation in the drill gets Scouts active within their community and follows the BSA Motto of “Be Prepared”. Participation in an emergency drill is also a requirement for the Eagle required Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge as they learn about how to respond to a disaster.
Scouts showing off their “injuries”
Top row: Heidi B. Kenzie L. Minnie C. Sara K. Frankie H.
Front row: Summer S., Addison T.
CERT is the Community Emergency Response Team, run by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They hold several classes annually to teach citizens how to be first responders and assist when emergencies happen. CERT teams are especially needed after major disasters, when Fire and Police officials may be tied up due to excessive call volume, they also assist with day to day needs like working the vaccine clinic at the AV Fairgrounds or helping at local food distribution sites.
The emergency scenario is the “final exam” for each class of CERT volunteers and is often an explosion or earthquake. The Scouts are asked to play the part of the victims. The Scouts are given their choice of “injuries” that can include cuts and bruises, to head injuries and amputations. Each victim is given a paper, describing their injury and the part they will play and they are then “rescued” by the CERT students.
Scoutmaster April Barr and Life Scout Heidi Barr arrived early and were trained in application of moulage (stage make-up) for the event by Melanie Palahnuk, the Palmdale CERT Team Captain.
Scout Sara K. was “rescued” and reunited with her father Joe during the scenario. Joe’s character sheet had him having symptoms of a heart attack and Sara had been hit by simulated falling debris and had an arm injury. She was able to talk to him and help keep him calm once they were reunited.
From out CERT event on October 30th, 2021, Scouts Minnie C., Riley K., and Kenzie L. participated. In the photos below, Minnie (left photo) and Riley K. (center photo) are being escorted out of the building after a simulated earthquake. In the third photo, Kenzie L. is waiting under the desk to be rescued by CET team members.
