Second DPH/DNREC CERT Course

 

On June 6th, the Delaware Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) returned to teach a second CERT Awareness Class for the other half of the Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) labs.  Twenty people attended the session, for a total of 43 CERT trained lab personnel.

DSAMH CERT Course

On May 8th and 9th, the Delaware Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), led by Bob George and Marny McLee, taught a CERT course for the Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) at the Herman Holloway Campus in New Castle.  Colonel Dallas Wingate of the Delaware National Guard taught Terrorism Awareness and Joe Papili, Delaware United States Marshal, gave a presentation on Active Shooters. Thirty members of DHSS/DSAMH took the training. This was the fourth course taught on the campus.  The point-of-contact (POC) for the course was Jessica Washer.

Disaster Preparedness Presentation

On April 29th, Bob George, Delaware Citizen Corps and CERT Program Manager, gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to members of the Saint Polycarps Church in Smyrna. Marny McLee, Program Training and Outreach Coordinator, discussed the emergency supplies in the Citizen Corps' Disaster Kit Back Pack, which was given to each member who attended.  The kit consists of a NOAA Weather Alert Radio, first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, and Power Bars. Also included are a bottle of water (a gallon per person a day is needed during a disaster, for drinking and cleaning), solar blanket, dust mask, whistle, glow stick, cowhide gloves, and duct tape.

DPH Open House

Marny McLee, Senior Citizen Corps/CERT Training and Outreach Coordinator, manned a display table at the Delaware Department of Public Health Laboratory EMS and Preparedness Section's 2013 Open House.  At the event, there were were table displays, emergency vehicles, and presentations. The Emergency Medical Tent was also on display, and tours of the lab were given.

CERT Volunteer Awards

On April 17th, Bob George , the Delaware Citizen Corps and Community Emergency Response Team Training Manager, presented Awards of Excellence and a Certificate of Appreciation to two CERT members.

Dave Young, State CERT Team Lead Instructor, has been with the team for over eight years and was featured in the February 7th News Journal article titled “Preacher of Preparedness.” Dave is a retired Engineer from Conectiv/Delmarva Power, a Red Cross Instructor, a professor at the University of Delaware. Additionally, Dave and his wife Mary (pictured) are members of the Christian Care Medical Reserve Corps. He teaches the Search and Rescue and Medical Operations Blocks of the CERT Course.

Donzella Johnson, from the Public Health Preparedness Section, is retired from the Delaware National Guard and a past scheduler and administrative support member for the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps. She has completed the CERT Course twice, as well as scheduled over one hundred DMRC members for the training.  In December 2012, Donzella witnessed a car accident on her way to work. She donned her CERT Helmet and Vest, stopped to offer assistance, and directed traffic after First Responders arrived.

DPH and DNREC Labs CERT Training

On April 4th, instructors from the Delaware Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), led by Bob George and Marny McLee, taught a CERT Awareness Course for the Division of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) labs.  Twenty four members of the two labs attended the class, which was held at the Mallard Lodge on Route 9 in Smyrna. A follow-up class for the remaining half of employees is scheduled for June 6th at the Lodge. The point of contact for the class was Christina Pleasanton, Deputy Director of the labs, and Director Sergio Huerta was also in attendance.

Disaster Preparedness Presentation in Dover

On March 21, Delaware Citizen Corps Program Manager Robert George and Coordinator Marny McLee delivered a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the fifty five and over group at the Faith Community Church in Dover. Approximately twenty members attended the presentation, which was very well received with many questions and input from the group. Outreach materials and five Citizen Corps Disaster Kits were given away. The point of contact for the presentation was Tony Wolford.