VITEMA Graduates First School Campus Team to Become Teen CERT-Certified
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) graduated 27 St. Croix Seventh-Day Adventist School student-volunteers as certified Teen CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members in a brief ceremony held Sunday at the St. Croix Rescue Academy in Five Corners, making Seventh-Day Adventist the first school in the Territory to have a certified Teen CERT on campus.
Teen CERT is a pilot program that mirrors the CERT program developed for adult citizens who want to be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Similar to CERT, Teen CERT educates and trains participants in preparing for disasters that impact their area. The 27 graduates spent five hours a day for four days within the last week learning a range of disaster response skills, including fire suppression, light search and rescue, and CPR. The program culminated on Sunday with a mock full-scale exercise that tested all of the skills learned in the classroom and during hands-on training. St. Croix Rescue Academy provided CERT-certified instructors for the program.
The mock full-scale exercise simulated a 7.0 earthquake just off of St. Croix. As part of the mock exercise, titled “Operation Shaky,” the student-volunteers established an Incident Command post and assigned an Incident Commander, team scribe, safety officer and section chiefs for fire, search and rescue, medical operations and logistics. During the exercise the team extinguished small fires, rescued 11 people, and provided medical assistance to six who were wounded — all under the watchful eyes of St. Croix Rescue instructors who were evaluating their performance.
VITEMA Assistant Director Noel Smith, who offered brief remarks at the ceremony on behalf of Director Elton Lewis, congratulated the new Teen CERT members and thanked school officials for allowing the program to be conducted during school hours and on the school’s campus.
Smith added that the certified Teen CERT members can now assist others in their schools or neighborhood following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. Teen CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
“The reality is that after a major disaster strikes, it may take days for first responders to reach those in need of help right away,” Smith said. “In this type of situation people, even teens, will, on their own, try to help one another. What we are doing through the VI Teen CERT program is giving those who want to help, the needed life-saving skills with emphasis on decision-making, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number.”
SDA Principal Dr. Hamil Tobias, who also spoke at the ceremony, said the St. Croix Seventh-Day Adventist School was happy to serve as the first pilot for this program.
“Looking at what our students did today, we can attest to the fact they indeed greatly benefited,” Tobias said. “They have made their parents and their school very proud. As a result of this training, the St. Croix Seventh-Day Adventist School will not be the same.”
Smith also thanked the St. Croix Rescue Academy, led by Chief Gregory Richards, for providing CERT-certified instructors and playing a significant role in the coordination of the launch of VI Teen CERT. The instructors themselves also volunteer their time for the CERT and VI Teen CERT programs.
Instructors included Capt. Jeremy Swan, Lt. Eugene Phipps, EMT Victor Adams, St. John firefighter/EMT Clarence Stevenson, St. Croix Rescue Academy manager Patricia C. Joseph, and St. Croix Rescue members Orson Henry, Valerie Rodriguez, Luz Miranda, Miguel Ramos, Paul Forde, Modestus John-Baptiste, Faye John-Baptiste, Juan Espinosa, Della Emmanuel, Patricia Benjamin, and Fanny Melendez.
As certified Teen CERT members, the student-volunteers received a CERT backpack complete with hard hat, safety vest, latex gloves, first aid kit, dust mask, flashlight, safety goggles, emergency blanket, and light stick. They also were given Teen CERT ID cards and t-shirts and will be asked to join VITEMA in future training, community outreach, and various exercise events.
“Our pledge is that we will continue to train and prepare them for all hazards and, in return, we ask is that they advocate for individual responsibility for preparedness in their communities,” Smith said. “This is truly a proud moment for VITEMA and the St. Croix Rescue Academy.”
Smith encouraged other high schools and youth-based organizations to work with VITEMA to develop Teen CERT programs on their campuses. The program is also available to faith-based communities, youth organizations and members of clubs and civic organizations.
For more information about Teen CERT, contact VITEMA’s Assistant Director Noel Smith at 340-774-2244 or 340-228-1320.
