News

Inaugural CERT camp gets students prepared

The UA-PTC Police sponsored the first Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) Youth Preparedness Camp which took place July 9-11, at the South campus location. Fifteen students participated in the new program, which focused was on preparing students to act in the event of an emergency or disaster or to aid emergency personnel.

Amanda Kennedy was the lead organizer and leader of the CERT youth camp. Training focused on fire safety, first aid and safety, triage, and light search and rescue. The students got to put out an actual fire with guidance from the Alexander Fire Department. They also got to watch a helicopter land and explore the inside while learning of its importance in an emergency with help from LifeNet. Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management taught Search and Rescue while allowing the students to explore all the tools used during such events.

At the end of camp, the students participated in a scenario where they had to utilize all skills learned while rescuing, triaging, and getting victims to safety. All of this was done with support from Saline County Emergency Management, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Alexander Fire Department, LifeNet Air, Pulaski County Emergency Management, UA-PTC CERT, and UA-PTC Police and Public Safety.