CERT unit 2

Question 1

What is the ICS?

Answer 1

CERT organization is based on the Incident Command System (ICS), which is a proven
management system used by emergency responders. On-Scene management in a
disaster situation follows these principles:
* Maintain the safety of disaster workers. The CERT Team Leader (TL) must
continually prioritize response activities based on the team’s capability and
training. TLs also maintain the principle that rescuer safety is the number one
concern. CERT functional leadership assigns activities and accounts for team
volunteers. CERT volunteers work in the buddy system and respond based on
their size-up of the situations that they encounter.
* Provide clear leadership and organizational structure by developing a chain of
command and roles that are known by all team volunteers. Each CERT member
has only one person that he or she takes direction from and responds to.
* Improve the effectiveness of rescue efforts. Disaster information is collected, and
responses are prioritized based on rescuer safety and doing the greatest good
for the greatest number according to the team’s capabilities and training.

Question 2

Steps of cert size up?

Answer 2

1. Gather facts. What has happened? How many people appear to be involved?
   What is the current situation?
2. Assess and communicate the damage. Try to determine what has happened,
   what is happening now, and how bad things can really get.
3. Consider probabilities. What is likely to happen? What could happen through
   cascading events?
4. Assess your own situation. Are you in immediate danger? Have you been
   trained to handle the situation? Do you have the equipment that you need?
5. Establish priorities. Are lives at risk? Can you help? Remember, life safety is
   the first priority
6. Make decisions. Base your decisions on the answers to Steps 1 through 5 and
   in accordance with the priorities that you established.
7. Develop a plan of action. Develop a plan that will help you accomplish your
   priorities. Simple plans may be verbal, but more complex plans should always be
   written.
8. Take action. Execute your plan, documenting deviations and status changes so
   that you can report the situation accurately to first responders.
9. Evaluate progress. At intervals, evaluate your progress in accomplishing the
   objectives in the plan of action to determine what is working and what changes
   you may have to make to stabilize the situation.

Question 3

If damage to infrastructure is heavy…

Answer 3

No rescue should be attempted. Use tape around the
area or mark the area as heavy damage. CERT volunteers do not have any legal
authority to stop or restrict someone who wants to enter an area. At best, CERT
volunteers can warn others about the danger and inform the CERT TL
immediately if it is known that people are in the building.

Question 4

If damage to infrastructure is moderate…

Answer 4

Locate, assess (e.g., quickly evaluate and treat for
airway obstruction, bleeding, and low body temperature), and immediately
evacuate survivors to a safe area while minimizing both the number of rescuers
inside the building and the amount of time that they remain inside

Question 5

If damage to infrastructure is light…

Answer 5

Locate, assess, continue size-up, and document

Question 6

What is the command post?

Answer 6

The location established by the CERT TL as the central point for command and
control of the incident is called the Command Post for the CERT. The TL stays in
the Command Post. If the TL has to leave, the responsibility of TL must be
delegated to someone in the Command Post.