The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California

If you have any doubts about our importance in times of emergency, this will dispel them all.

"Studies show that the majority of people rescued are saved by nonprofessionals who happen to be in the immediate vicinity. 49 of 50 people saved from the rubble of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California were rescued by a group of 8 Mexican construction workers who have long since been forgotten in the larger U.S. cultural narrative of the heroic efforts by trained, search-and-rescue professionals."

If this was done by people with no training, just think how much more we will be able to do with our training.

I've said it before and I will say it again, "Remember, we are the ones that stand between life and death when a disaster strikes."

The only way to be ready for a disaster is to take part in as many of the trainings that are offered. Last Wednesday there was a training on triage at Boca Point and only four of us showed up. It was given by Frank Corriggio. Frank is an EMT and a member of the Boca Raton Fire Response Services Department. We reviewed and practiced. There were only four of us there.

On October 30 we had a training on bandaging and splinting, only 6 of us were there.

Let me ask you all a question, if you were in a disaster and needed help, would you be comfortable getting help from someone whose last training was a year or more ago? Someone who was not up on the latest methods of saving lives? I know I would not.

We will be having more trainings and I hope to see more of you at them. Just belonging to CERT does not make you qualified to do what will be expected of a CERT member in times of need.

Sincerely,

Phil Ettinger: Team Leader