Anyone’s a Rescuer in Disaster Training

When Glorria Morrison began a campaign 10 years ago to persuade teachers, building managers and administrators to learn how to rescue people in a natural disaster, few were interested.

The problem, Morrison said, was that they didn’t realize how long it could take for trained rescuers to arrive.

“They were shocked that the fire department was not going to take care of them,” said Morrison, Huntington Beach emergency services coordinator. “But in a disaster, there aren’t enough firefighters and police officers to respond to every call for help.”

The lessons were learned. Saturday, more than 100 people took part in a training exercise run by Huntington Beach’s Community Emergency Response Team, one of a growing number of programs designed to teach Orange County residents how to conduct search and rescue operations.

Experts have learned that in disasters, emergency personnel can be quickly overwhelmed and that volunteers do most of the initial rescues, said Bob Berg, emergency services coordinator for Anaheim.

“There’s this misconception that everyone is going to run away and leave people for dead. That just doesn’t happen,” Berg said. “Recognizing that, we feel that we need to train people.”

Saturday, participants learned how to carry seriously injured victims. They searched dark rooms by flashlight for fake bodies. Using bars and wooden blocks, they removed a dummy made of fire hose that was wedged under a concrete block.

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Anna Cave, Brea emergency preparedness coordinator, said that city’s training program helps people identify their strengths.

“If you faint at the sight of blood, then you shouldn’t be the one who [enters damaged homes and] gets supplies in an emergency,” Cave said. “If you are a natural leader, then you should prepare yourself to manage the scene until someone gets there.”

Cave said the rescue program helps people figure out how much they should get involved during emergencies.

“We never encourage anyone to put their own lives at risk,” she said. “Most people who go through the training know their limits. They can decide for themselves.”

Victor Lockhoff, who attended the Huntington Beach training session, said he feels confident that he can apply what he learned during a disaster.

“The best feeling is knowing that you can help people if the situation ever arises,” Lockhoff said.