Hosts First Aerial Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
By Maxine Scheer
In an event held Thursday at Compton-Woodley Airport in Los Angeles, a group of forty students, some as young as 12, participated in a simulation exercise and received certification in what officials identified as the nation’s first Aerial Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
The program was organized and implemented by a partnership between Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum (TAM) in Compton, CA and the South Los Angeles TEEN CERT Collaborative. Training was conducted over the last two weeks at TAM’s facility.
“We have just experienced a 7.8 magnitude earthquake,” said Captain Tyri Williams of the Compton Fire Department, as he described a dire situation with heavily damaged building and infrastructure, and narrated students through the simulation that included dozens of Job Corp volunteers role-playing as the dead and injured victims. TAM students and flight instructors provided aerial assessments of the city, conducted triage with mentors, and demonstrated first-aid and fire-fighting skills. Other local teen CERT cohorts participated as well, promoting teamwork and additional training.
Teen CERT programs are growing throughout the nation, and in South Los Angeles, public health officials recognize the value of not only the airport, but of the young people who participate in training and leadership programs supported by TAM and led by Executive Director, Robin Petgrave. TAM has reached over 11,000 students since it was established in 1998. The non-profit flight school has provided over 4,500 hours of in-flight training to 900+ students, most of which was provided in exchange for internships at TAM.
Emergency responders who led the training and participated in today’s simulation were thoroughly impressed by TAM students. “Today's event at TAM marks the Collaborative's 7th Teen cohort and we have trained over 80 students to date", said Sharon Sylvers-Sidney, one of the CERT Collaborative leaders. "Until today, our largest Teen CERT class was 20 students, and Robin Petgrave lined up forty." "These were some of the best students we’ve ever seen,” said Stacy Barnes, Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Compton’s Fire Department as she observed the simulation. “We teach them to be over-achievers”, responded Petgrave, before taking off in a four-seat R-44R to pick up a ‘wounded volunteer’ nearby and demonstrate for public officials the maneuverability of helicopters.
The CERT award ceremony included testimonials from TAM students, one of whom introduced herself as a student pilot and future astronaut. “One of the first things I learned when I started flying here was the importance of safety, and what I learned from CERT training is you can’t go on instinct, you have to learn these skills.” Cinthya is one of four young women participating in a Space Academy program, a collaboration between TAM and Space X, headquartered nearby in the city of Hawthorne.
“Most of Compton’s infrastructure was leveled in an earthquake in 1933,” said Hon. Yvonne Arceneauz, Councilwoman (District 3), “and while we don’t know when another might occur, we need to anticipate it happening again.”
The concept of “Community Resilience” has risen on the national radar given the lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and the deteriorating condition of local roads, bridges, and coastal infrastructure. “Communities, especially those were individuals and families lack resources to evacuate or relocate, need to be prepared,” said Jan King, MD, MPH and Area Health Officer as she introduced the awards ceremony. “This CERT training is also teaching you about collaboration and teamwork, and even resilience in school.”
“Moving in … fire’s out”, yelled two students as they demonstrated in pairs the safe use of the fire extinguisher.
“We’d like to take TAM students further in advanced CERT training,” said Barnes, as she was talking about future programs with Petgrave. “The aerial capabilities can help us in many areas.”
(Images provided by Maxine Scheer)
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