Once you’ve made a plan, built your kit, and know where you’ll get notifications of emergency situations in your area, you may be ready to get involved with emergency management agencies or just improve your knowledge of emergency response. You could even volunteer and give the gift of life.
Here are some of the ways to get involved:
Take a First Aid Class – Most local American Red Cross agencies and many hospitals and fire departments offer free or low-cost first aid classes. It’s important to know basic first aid if a family member is injured or needs medical help.
Take a Stop the Bleed Class – In more and more areas, Stop the Bleed protocols are taught along with basic first aid. These classes are the result of a collaborative effort by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and Lifesaving Techniques established by the military. Typically, these classes involved the proper use of bleeding control and the use of a tourniquet. Stop the Bleed is a national public awareness campaign with more than 3 million people trained.
Adult and Infant CPR: Know what to do if a family member or a person in a public venue suffers a heart attack. The training typically lasts three hours and goes through the proper administration of CPR for adults, children, and infants, as well as the use of an AED for reestablishing proper heart rhythm.
CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) – Many communities sponsor CERT teams, offering basic training and follow-up practice sessions. Typically, CERT training spans 7 to ten weeks for one night a week and includes first aid, basic search and rescue, emergency management organization, fire suppression, disaster psychology, and team organization and operations.
Citizens Police Academy – These courses are typically sponsored by local police or sheriffs and offer insight into law enforcement training. Typically 8 to 10 weeks for one night a week, topics include criminal law, patrol procedures, crime scene processing, and investigations.
Citizens Fire Academy – Usually sponsored by the local fire department, residents learn about the history of fire service, fire science, hazardous materials, emergency apparatuses, and portable fire extinguisher training. These classes are usually once a week for 8 weeks.
Give Blood – Local blood banks always need donors, especially if you have a rare blood type. One pint of blood can save three lives. In Kentucky, 400 donors are needed every day just to maintain the blood supply.
You are the help until help arrives – This online FEMA training provides basic guidance for people who want to get involved in case of accidents or other local emergencies. The training is available from the FEMA website.
Volunteer with your local emergency management agency – In many jurisdictions, emergency management agencies will accept volunteers with certain skills to serve as operation center coordinators. These people may serve as call takers and specialists in operational areas, such as volunteer organizing, agriculture, utilities, public affairs, and other functional areas. With training, volunteers may serve in planning, logistics, and finance assignments. During disasters, trained volunteers may assist in safety operations and damage assessments. Check with your local emergency management agency for details.