Blog Archives August 2020

8/18/2020

The Integrated Solutions Consulting (ISC) Training and Exercise Group recently supported a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Drill for the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management (PBC DEM).

Palm Beach County’s Division of Emergency Management is a leader in Florida and across the nation for CERT training and program management. Their CERT teams and individually trained CERT members are spread across the County ready to assist during disasters and pre-planned events.

The ISC team designed, developed, and delivered a training exercise for 25 CERT members representing CERT teams across Palm Beach County. The training was designed to provide CERT members with updated information and tools that represent real-work skills they can use in the event of an emergency. The drill covered the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) along with hands-only CPR to provide lifesaving skills, Stop the Bleed training for trauma wound care, scene safety, and securing a vehicle after an accident.

Adding to the event’s complexity was providing realistic training in a COVID-19 environment. To mitigate the concerns for COVID-19, the drill was moved to a large outdoor venue, allowing a large amount of social distancing while training. Participants were checked for body temperatures and face masks and hand sanitizer were provided and used between all training scenarios. To further mitigate any concerns over COVID-19, the ISC training team had six staff instructors that are also paramedics in the event a participant had a medical emergency.

During the post-drill review, CERT members complimented the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management and the training team for providing realistic training that was outside the normal topics that they typically receive.

Mr. Bill Johnson, the Director for the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management, had this to say after the drill. “These are challenging times for emergency management and for the residents of Palm Beach County. During these difficult times the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management continues to excel in providing world-class training opportunities for our CERT volunteers. One example of this is our partnering with Integrated Solutions Consulting training team that developed and provided an outstanding CERT drill in a safe and productive environment. Training and drills like this keep our CERT response partners prepared for the next emergency. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must also maintain a level of vigilance for the elevated threat of this year’s hurricane season.