Members of AAACERT participated in an active shooter drill on the Eastern Shore for the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants on September 27. Using realistic wounds, AAACERT members acted as victims at five stations. Each station focused on a specific wound and or type of care. We love doing this type of event since we get to help train our first responders and healthcare professionals who might one-day save our own lives.
These stations included:
Station #1 CHEST WOUND: The victim will have an entrance and exit wound.
Station #2 GROIN WOUND: The victim will have a GSW to the groin requiring the wound to be packed with combat gauze.
Station #3 PRESSURE DRESSING: The victim will have two GSW’s, one to the upper arm and one to the lower leg.
Station #4. TOURNIQUET: GSW wounds to both legs, that are actively bleeding.
Station#5 HEAD WOUND: This will GSW to the head.
The organizer provided the following update on the actor victims.
“I wanted to let you know that Ian, Marilyn, Jane, James and Jeff were absolutely amazing people. The active shooter workshop was a huge success. Everyone at the conference who went through the training are still talking about have great the victims were. They made the scenarios very very realistic. I can’t thank you enough for your assistance and for the help of the 5 above mentioned people.”
Check out our Facebook page for pictures of the event.
Click HERE if this is something that interest you and you want to learn more about AAACERT.
The 2024 Russett Community’s Fall Festival had over 60 vendor tables. AAACERT was honored to be asked to help direct vendor traffic into their assigned spots while keeping pedestrians safe from vehicle traffic. We look forward to helping again next year.
If your community or organization holds similar events and would like trained, traffic, crowed, and/or basic first aid support from our volunteer organization please reach out to certcoordinator@aaacert.org.
Did you know you should shake or turn your fire extinguishers about once per month? Yup, you should to help keep the powered inside loose. Not all fire extinguishers can put out all types of fires. That’s what the ABC designation on most home extinguishers indicate. And you have less time to use them than you might think.
All this and the opportunity to practice with a modern, digital fire extinguisher training system is available to any group or organization interested…FOR FREE.
AAACERT members, please see D4H for Traffic and Booth coverage needs. Your reporting times are different from the times listed here.
The Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management is planning to host the 2023 Emergency Preparedness Expo at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) Arundel Mills Campus in Hanover on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM rain or shine.
This annual family-friendly event is hosted during National Preparedness Month to enhance residents’ preparedness and safety awareness, highlight the importance of public safety and service organizations, and strengthen community resilience.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the CERTCON 2022 event held in Alexandria, VA.
CERTCON is open to everyone interested in emergency preparedness and response, including volunteers for Medical Reserve Corps, Red Cross, Team Rubicon, among others. We encourage anyone, a member of CERT or not, to attend the 2023 CERTCON.
Check out the CERTCON website and links to photos.
Bruce Morgenstern is loaded into the back of an ambulance during EPLEX 2022.
AAACERT is proud to have helped support the 2022 EPLEX event at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport on November 5, 2022 by providing over 30 volunteers to help first responders from the BWI Fire Department and surrounding jurisdictions train for a mass casualty incident such as a plane crash. Great moulage added to the realism. The scenario started with a mass casualty incident (nearby fire and 87 passengers in various states of distress). Firefighters and paramedics did initial triage, secondary triage, and then transported victims to a treatment area.
Check out our Facebook page for more photos provided by AAACERT member Rich Saad.
County Executive Steuart Pittman (left) and AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern (right) stand in front of the AAACERT tent.
Anne Arundel Annapolis CERT was honored to participate in the 2022 Pride Festival in Annapolis on Saturday June 04. Volunteer members of AAACERT also participated as the Pride Parade Marshals, helping to organize the participants and keep the parade route safe for everyone.
Karen Demyanovich helps at AAACERT tent.
At the festival, our tent was joined by tents from Anne Arundel County OEM, Anne Arundel County PD, Annapolis OEM, Annapolis PD, and Annapolis FD. Our little enclave of first responders, emergency specialists and volunteers had a surprising large number of visitors. All very interested in who AAACERT was. We hope anyone that took a brochure signs up for our next CERT Basic class coming in the fall.
Brandon Gosnell helps at the AAACERT tent.
To learn more about the class checkout our training page. Perhaps even consider a donation.
Community Association members setting up welcome and picture stations with fall-themed props.
The 2021 Russett Community’s Fall Festival had over 90 vendor tables. This year AAACERT was honored to be asked to help direct vendor traffic into their assigned spots while keeping pedestrians safe from vehicle traffic. We look forward to helping next year and with many other events planned at Russett.
AAACERT members (from left) Brett Wagner, Brandon Gosnell, and Heather Pierce helped to keep traffic flowing and pedestrians safe during the event.
If your community or organization holds similar events and would like trained, professional traffic, crowed, and/or basic first aid support from our volunteer organization please reach out to certcoordinator@aaacert.org.
Looking down the parking lot at vendors setting up.
AAACERT members Joseph and Rosy Dorffner pause while serving Annapolis, May 30. Members Greg Burch, Joseph Whitworth, and Laurie Goodell (not pictured) also served that day in the state capital city.
Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) members are assisting the City of Annapolis in the downtown area as safe health practice ambassadors. While on their walks, the AAACERT members encourage downtown guests to maintain social distancing, avoid large groups, and wear masks. When they have masks available, they are also handing out face coverings and offering hand sanitizer to those who want them. AAACERT has no enforcement role while performing this function, though they are equipped with radios to maintain situational awareness or contact police, if necessary.
Being safe practice ambassadors is only one role AAACERT is serving right now. Members are also volunteering at the Anne Arundel County Food Bank in Crownsville, the County Donation Center in Odenton, the food drives in Brooklyn Park and Annapolis, and the county Office of Emergency Management call center in Glen Burnie. To date, AAACERT has supported the county with more than 1800 hours of volunteer service since the stay-home orders began in March.
When you hear something on social media about the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, it’s important to consider who is making the statement or suggestion, what they are asking you to do, and what is the evidence for their suggested course of action. During a disaster response, it’s vital to seek out trustworthy sources of information and help dispel rumors.
So here are a few of the Twitter accounts we’re following at @AAACERT for federal, state, county, and local news on COVID-19 preparedness in Anne Arundel County. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. However, if you’d like to suggest other trusted local sources of information on the novel coronavirus pandemic to follow, please email AAACERT Public Information Officer Jonathan Hutson, PIO@aaacert.org.
20 Trustworthy Twitter Accounts on COVID-19 Preparedness
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (@Steuart_Pittman)
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (@AACountySchools) Official Twitter account of Anne Arundel Co. Public Schools, 1 of the 50 largest school systems in the US & the 5th largest in MD.
Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management (@AACO_OEM) The Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management manages the County’s response to major emergencies.
Anne Arundel County Department of Public Health (@AAHealth) Official Twitter source for health updates.
Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness (@CDCgov) CDC’s official Twitter source for daily credible health & safety updates from Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
CDC Emergency (@CDCemergency) The handle for CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR). They tweet ways to #PrepYourHealth, and tips about public health preparedness and emergency responses.
CDC Emerging Infections (@CDC_NCEZID) NCEZID works to protect people from emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases, from anthrax to Zika.
City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management (@AnnapolisOEM)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (@FEMA) Their story of supporting citizens & first responders before, during, and after emergencies.
FEMA Emergency Management Institute (@FEMA_EMI) Official Twitter account of the Emergency Management Institute of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FEMA Region 3 (@FEMAregion3) Region III serves DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, & WV. This channel provides FEMA mission-related information. For emergencies, call your local fire/EMS/police or 9-1-1.
Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan), 62nd Governor of the State of Maryland.
Health and Human Services (HHS), Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Public Health Emergency (@PHEgov) PHE.gov provides information on disaster health preparedness, response & recovery.
Homeland Preparedness News (@homelandprep) Covering the efforts undertaken by government and private sector to protect citizens from the ever evolving threats to the homeland. Be in the know.
Maryland Center for School Safety (@safeschoolsmd) Providing a coordinated and comprehensive policy for school safety in Maryland in collaboration with schools, public safety, and parents.
Maryland Emergency Management Agency (@MDMEMA) Their mission: To proactively reduce disaster risks and reliably manage consequences through collaborative work with Maryland’s communities and partners.
Maryland Health Department’ Office of Preparedness & Response (@MarylandOPR) Prepares for and responds to public health emergencies and administers the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps.
Maryland Poison Center (@MDPoisonCtr) Providing free poison exposure advice to Marylanders 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222.
Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (@disasterstrat) The mission of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies is equal access and full inclusion for the whole community before, during & after disasters.
And please remember to follow and retweet the Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (@AAACERT).
Both prescription painkillers and street drugs contribute to the opioid epidemic in Maryland. (Photo: Shutterstock.com/Leigh A. Williams)
On Oct. 16, Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) hosted Mr. Paul Bowling, who provided training on the Maryland Overdose Response Program. Mr. Bowling is a Physician Assistant with over 40 years’ experience in Trauma, Critical Care, and Emergency Medicine and is also involved in Healthcare Emergency Management. Mr. Bowling currently serves as the president of AAACERT.
An opioid is any drug that contains opium or its
derivative. The opioid crisis began in the 1990s with the free flow of these
substances due to liberal prescription practices by providers and promotion by
drug companies. Opioids can be either prescription medications or illegal
drugs, and are ingested by various means. The most common opioids are the
prescription drugs oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, morphine, and codeine;
as well as the illegal drugs heroin and fentanyl.
Opioids vary in lethality per individual and circumstances.
They are especially lethal for the elderly. Moreover, as opioids act on the
brain, they become increasingly more toxic when mixed with another opioid,
alcohol, benzodiazepines, and/or cocaine.
The effects of an opioid overdose can be reversed by naloxone (brand name Narcan). Naloxone reverses opioid overdose and restores breathing within a few minutes of being administered. It has no effects on a person who has not taken opioids (including the person giving it), so it is safe even if an overdose is mistakenly understood but has not occurred; moreover, the other side effects of naloxone for the person in overdose are minimal and rare. Naloxone can be given intranasally, intramuscularly, or intravenously. The drug onset is within 1-2 minutes, and it wears off in 30-90 minutes. Unfortunately, there are super-opioids on the street for which one dose of naloxone is not sufficient, so further dose(s) may be required.
Opioid overdose is characterized by several signs and
symptoms. Like a person who is “high,” the victim’s pupils become very
constricted (small). However, the victim may also display the following
symptoms:
Loud snoring or gargling noises
A very limp body
Unresponsiveness
Pale or grey, clammy skin
Bluish lips and fingertips
A slow or erratic pulse
Slow, shallow, or no breathing
Unconsciousness
Due to the dangers of an opioid’s effects impacting the
responder, it is imperative always to wear gloves when
attempting to help the victim.
The following steps are recommended when responding to an
opioid overdose victim.
Rouse and
stimulate the victim by touching, shaking his/her shoulders, or (carefully)
performing a sternal rub.
Call 911. *
Administer
naloxone.
Perform further
resuscitation. If the person is not
breathing, or has shallow/short breaths, give rescue breaths (preferably with a
barrier), or – if you are trained in CPR – chest compressions with rescue breaths.
Care for the
victim until professional responders
arrive.
*Administer the
naloxone first if the person is unconscious; a second dose may be necessary
after calling 911.
When administering naloxone, allow 1-3 minutes for the
medication to work. If breathing is not restored after 2-3 minutes, give
another dose, and continue resuscitation as necessary. Be sure to follow the
911 dispatcher’s instructions once you have called.
It is also important to stay with the individual until medical help arrives. S/he may feel ill or agitated or need to vomit. If the person cannot sit up, make sure they are in the recovery position (right side, arm supporting head, bent knee to support body). Help the person to stay calm, and encourage him/her not to take more opioids. Remember that a person “coming to” is often annoyed, confused, and/or combative, so be sure to stay alert and protect yourself.
If you administer naloxone, it is important to call the Poison
Control Center (1-800-222-1222) within two hours after the event, as
this entity tracks the lethality of various street drugs, where they are
trafficked and used, and other key information about opioids.
Finally, if you respond to an opioid overdose in progress,
be assured that you cannot be held liable for a good faith attempt to help
someone. Under the “Good Samaritan” measures in the Code of
Maryland, Health General, Section 13-3110, “an individual who administers
naloxone to an individual believed to be experiencing an overdose shall have
immunity from liability under Sections 6-603 and 5-629 of the Courts and
Judicial Proceedings Article.” Additionally, the Code of Maryland, Criminal
Procedure Article, Section 1-120 states that, “a person who seeks, provides or
assists with medical assistance for another person experiencing an alcohol- or
drug-related medical emergency cannot be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for
possession of a controlled dangerous substance; possession or use of drug
paraphernalia; or providing alcohol to minors.” Moreover, calling 911 will not
affect the parole or probation status of a person attempting to help.
Naloxone is available as a prescription from any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority or an authorized ordering, referring, or providing (ORP) entity that dispenses naloxone. Per statewide standing order, any person can obtain naloxone at a participating pharmacy. For a list of pharmacies that stock naloxone, visit the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Administration’s information page.
AAACERT trains volunteers in disaster response skills and emergency preparedness. AAACERT volunteers assist others in our community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help. When activated under the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management, or the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management, AAACERT supports emergency response agencies. For more information, visit www.aaacert.org.
A CDC scientist works in the lab to study the flu virus. (Photo: James Gathany/CDC).
Ms. Arlene G. Crow, Emergency Manager for Anne Arundel Community College, recently provided training to the Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) on the operational members’ potential role in a biological incident.
Ms. Crow began the session by outlining the various forms and categories of bio-agents that might trigger a need for prophylactic dispensing to the general public. Bio-agents can occur in one of three forms: bacterial, virus, or toxin. Bacterial agents are distinguished by, among other things, their ability to replicate cells independently. Viruses, however, cannot reproduce outside the host body. A third type of agent, toxin, is a potent poison with organic origin.
Bio-agents
are categorized according to their ease of transmission or dissemination; severity
of mortality potential; need for preparedness; and ability to threaten
national security or day-to-day social functioning. Category A, the
highest-risk agents, include anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia,
and certain viral hemorrhagic fevers. Category B agents include ricin,
salmonella, certain encephalitis fevers, waterborne threats such as vibrio
cholerae, and others. Category C agents are those with an emerging pathway,
and which could be engineered for harm to the public. These include influenza,
rabies, drug-resistant tuberculosis, SARS, and others. Emergency managers must
be prepared to respond to a potential outbreak of any category agent.
The next phase of the training focused on the
origins and symptoms of Category A bio-agents that cause the highest threat to
the public: anthrax, tularemia, plague, smallpox, and viral hemorrhagic fevers.
Ms. Crow noted that nearly all of these agents’ initial symptoms are flulike,
highlighting the challenge for medical responders and diagnosticians in
determining exactly with what malady a patient may present.
In all cases of a potential bio-threat, health departments, in conjunction with emergency managers, would act swiftly to establish points of dispensing (PODs) to distribute prophylactic medicine from the Strategic National Stockpile on a large scale that could protect the public. PODs can be set up indoor, outdoor, or as drive-thrus. Ms. Crow noted the efficacy of drive-thru PODs due to their ease of use for the public, the police, and the medical community. She reminded CERT members of the need for logistical necessities for all who participate, either as customers or workers – i.e., a large space, full gas tanks, available bathroom facilities, food for workers, etc.
CERT members have an important role in the smooth
functioning of a POD. Among the functions CERT teamers can carry out during a
POD are traffic control/lane controllers; set-up and tear-down; administrative
support; communications/runners; data collection; resupply; greeters;
logistics; and, in some cases, even dispensing or assisting with the dispensing
of medication.
Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) members supported the annual Preparedness Expo on Sept. 21 at Marley Station in Glen Burnie. Arriving by 6:30 a.m. for the operational briefing, CERT members then took their stations to participate in traffic control, assisting vendors with set-up, directing vehicles within the perimeter, and helping to provide extra eyes and ears for general safety. Most of the CERT members stayed to work the entire event, including teardown, which concluded around 3:00 p.m.
The Preparedness Expo is a yearly event hosted by the Anne Arundel Office of Emergency Management to familiarize the public with the many functions and activities of the response community. At the 2019 Expo, more than 45 participating organizations provided displays of their skills, literature, gifts, and personal representatives to help individuals and families learn how to be ready for disasters and incidents. Exhibitors invited children to climb into vehicles to see the dashboards; animal handlers gave demonstrations of canine aptitude; and fire personnel gave live demonstrations of safety or extinguishing practice.
“You just don’t realize everything these [responders] do every day,” remarked one visitor in passing, “and we are so blessed to have them in our community.” She added her thanks to responders for their availability, time, and training.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security designates every September as National Preparedness Month. Visit the agency’s website to find numerous resources aimed at helping families be ready for any emergency or disaster they might face.
AAACERT trains volunteers in disaster response skills and emergency preparedness. AAACERT volunteers assist others in our community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help. When activated under the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management, or the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management, AAACERT supports emergency response agencies.
Making sure that the first time we work together isn’t during an emergency or disaster, AAACERT members Bruce Morgenstern, Rosy Dorffner, Joe Dorffner, and Marilyn Zachariah (not pictured) supported Upper Marlboro CERT with the Town of Upper Marlboro Community Day as volunteer ambassadors, providing safety/security and general support.
Upper Marlboro CERT members shown in the photo are Wanda Leonard, president of Upper Marlboro CERT and Town Commissioner, Peggy Keller, and Charmaine Cook.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the CERTCON 2022 event held in Alexandria, VA.
