PNC First University in State to Complete CERT Training

CERT Training, PNC Campus, April 4 Download photo here.

WESTVILLE – Fourteen Purdue University North Central faculty and staff members completed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, making PNC the first Indiana campus to have a certified CERT team.

The CERT team members will be able to aid the PNC police and other rescue workers should a disaster or emergency strike the campus and can assist with basic first aid, light search and rescue, small fire suppression and disaster scene organization. While they will not be used in place of the police, they will be able to provide critical support to emergency personnel and give immediate assistance to victims before help arrives.

“I am pleased that the campus community responded to my call to participate,” said PNC Chief of Police Robert Gaekle, who completed the PNC CERT training. “It is important for us to have additional trained personnel on campus who can provide much-needed assistance should an emergency strike.”

The three-day training session, led by a four-member team of professionals from the Michigan City Emergency Management Agency, culminated in a disaster preparedness drill on campus that put their class training to the test.

The drill simulated the scenario of a tornado hitting Westville, a fire striking a business, and blocked or collapsed roads and bridges near PNC. For the drill, CERT members were told casualties may have occurred at a church in Otis. Complicating things was the fact that the team “discovered” people on campus participating in a clean-up project. Team members were asked to respond to this emergency, remembering their focus is “to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people.”

The PNC CERT volunteers took their assignment seriously. All agreed they were drawn to the training by a desire to help those around them in the time of emergency.

Dr. George T. Asteriadis, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs, explained, “As a member of the PNC community for 32 years and part of the academic growth at this campus, this was an excellent opportunity to potentially help PNC in a nonacademic way and possibly save the lives of my friends, colleagues, and students if a diaster were to hit PNC. The CERT team will probably be incorporated into the overall emergency response plan for the campus under the direction of the chief of police, who is part of the CERT team.”

Nancy Nickels, Department of Nursing secretary, fulfilled a long-held desire to help others. “I have an interest in health care, specifically the emergency and trauma side of things. I jumped at the opportunity to learn a wealth of information that was so easily accessible at our campus! The course was organized, exciting and so informative that if I remember a third of what was presented I can function in a disaster and ‘do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people.’ This benefits our community, campus and our neighbors.”

Personal experiences moved others to volunteer. Brenda David, Information Services operations specialist said, “I saw the aftermath and the confusion caused when a tornado hit the county where I was raised and my family still lives. Two years ago a tornado went through Union Mills, where I now live. Again, I saw the destruction and confusion. I want to be part of the help, and not be a contributor to the confusion.” 

Tim West, Media Services technician added, “I joined CERT for my children. I want to be able to help them in any way possible. Second, if I’m on the job, I can take charge and help. Those completing this training found out that they didn’t know as much about emergency aid as thought they knew.”

John Jones, director of the Michigan City Emergency Management Agency, complimented the PNC team, “The PNC CERT training went extremely well because of the high level of participation and attention to detail from the students. Having a class of professional educators is enough to make any CERT instructor a bit nervous, but the PNC team was interested in one thing - getting it right!

“I was pleased to hear the ideas that emerged as the team talked about planning strategies, securing additional supplies for the campus and preplanning for hazards on campus. I believe in the CERT program and am confident that the PNC Campus is a safer place now then it had been, thanks to its new team.”

Patricia A. Carlisle, special assistant to the chancellor, summed up the sentiments of many class members stating, “I found the training to be an excellent match to my needs, and is an excellent beginning of what will be needed to make this team an effective supplement to the PNC police in an emergency. The training provided me a basis for evaluating my own home and being prepared to take care of myself and to help my neighbors. I am pleased to be part of this team . . . but I hope I never to have to use these skills . . .”

Others completing the PNC training are: Dr. Linda Duttlinger, Developmental Studies chair; Barbara Miller, Information Services lab technician; Bridget Cadwell, Print and Mail Services supervisor; Kristi Thomas, Learning Center secretary; Linda Rizer, Dean of Students Office secretary; Rick Bohan, physics lab technician; Stanley Roller, assistant professor of computer technology; Susan MacLeod, public services library assistant and community members Dennis and Pat Boy, Katie Answorth and Todd Miller.

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