CERT program certifies disaster responders

Georgia Regents Medical Center on-call chaplain Linda Hamilton knows exactly what to do should disaster strike in the hospital, at Georgia Regents University, in Richmond County or at her home.

She’ll use the knowledge and skills she learned through GRU-GRHealth’s inaugural Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program to respond and assist as needed. Hamilton was one of 11 that completed the program and received certification this week.

“I now have more tools to work with in helping people,” said Hamilton, an Army veteran. “In a catastrophe, chaplains are still needed because we consider the wholeness of the person (not just their physical well being).”

Offered by the office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response in partnership with Richmond County Emergency Management, the training included disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, disaster psychology and team organization, and disaster simulation.

The CERT program was offered free of charge to students, faculty, staff and volunteers.

Alex Cordray said the training was “a little out of what I normally do – I’m a computer nerd – but it’s all about teamwork. Teamwork is absolutely important because no one can do it alone.”

GRMC Emergency Management Supervisor Kevin Wells said the CERT program will be offered again in the fall.

Facilities Services Vice President Phil Howard was on hand Monday to present each person who participated in the program a certificate of completion.

“I know the community will benefit from it, and hopefully you benefited from it,” he said.

Email Wells at kewells@gru.edu or call 729-2069 to sign up for the fall class.