C.E.R.T. 2007 Training Sessions FINAL EXAM

The following pictures were taken on Saturday, 24 November 2007 at the Woodbridge High School.

After dedicating approximately twenty-four (24) hours of training, the Woodbridge Township C.E.R.T. candidates were ready to prove their skills learned during those hours of training.

The C.E.R.T. Final Exercise consisted of the following scenario:
" A fire, with resulting explosions, has erupted at the Hess Oil Refinery.  The Hess Fire Department and their HazMat crew have requested mutual aid from the surrounding jurisdictions.

Woodbridge, Carteret, Edison, Perth Amboy, and South Amboy Fire, HazMat, EMS, and police department have been called in to assist.

Woodbridge C.E.R.T. has been activated and all members have been assembled in the parking lot of Town Hall.

A phone call has been received by Woodbridge Township Dispatch that a motor vehicle accident has occurred on or near St. Georges Avenue North, near Woodbridge High School.  A vehicle containing 'special needs children and/or adults' and another vehicle have collided.  Both vehicles are in the up-right position but one of the vehicles have sustained a 'roll-over'.  Witnesses are unsure if they saw smoke from either vehicle.

Since all emergency services in and around the township are totally engaged at the Hess Oil Refinery fire, there is no on to dispatch to the scene of the accident.

The Director of the Office of Emergency Management notifies the OEM/CERT coordinator to send the team to the scene and for them to 'do their best under the circumstances.'

Upon arrival at the scene, it can clearly be seen that there are occupants in both vehicles.  The driver of the 'other vehicle' is out of the vehicle and walking around in what appears to be a dazed state.  A liquid is seen dripping from some canisters ejected from the 'other vehicle' - substance unknown.

The weather is turning cold with the temperature dropping below freezing and high winds are expected in the area within minutes."

Below are the pictures of the drill.  The candidates did exceptionally well for their first time acting as a unit and they have all passed the final drill.  They are no longer considered candidates but full fledged members of the Woodbridge Township Community Emergency Response Team.

To see a larger version of the thumbnail pictures shown below, position your cursor over the desired picture and click the LEFT mouse button.

Current team members and other "volunteers" are briefed on what they will be expected to do during the final exercise.	The briefing continues.	The kids are looking forward to being "victims" in the up- coming exercise.	Team Leader Lowell Aube explains to the kids what they will be expected to do during the exercise.	The candidates are given their assignment and they start to put together a plan.
Equipment is distributed and individual assignments are made before leaving for the "accident scene".	A final re-cap of assignments and equipment check and the candidates are ready to depart.	The candidates arrive "on scene" and prepare to do a "scene size-up" - the main rule is "IS IT SAFE?"	Candidate Keturah Harris-Brown does a great job controlling "by- standers" who try to get in the way of the candidates.	Gulshan "G" Manko played the part of a "terrorist" who doesn't speak English and was accidentally hit by one of the vehicles.  Something that WASN'T in the expected drill.
Despite being cold and having to lay on the ground, "G" was having "the time of his life".	Team member Charlotte Toke played the driver of the school van and pretended to sustain a head injury.	Matt Aube, son of team leader Lowell Aube pretended to sustain a broken hip.	The kids were having such a good time, it was hard for they to always stay in character of "victims".	The candidates set-up a triage and treatment area away from, and "up wind" of the accident site.
Candidate Ray Burgio, right, assists a "victim" with a "broken leg".	Candidate Lynn Tumblety performs a "head-to-toe" assessment of "victim" Charlotte Toke in the treatment area.	Busy scene: Candidate Bill Zupko gets information from "victim" Sherry Landt while candidate Neil Valladares brings another "victim" to the treatment area, while candidate Lynn Tumblety gets ready to treat "victim" Charlotte Toke.	Well, somebody finally put a blanket on the "terrorist".  He'll have to wait for the police to arrive!	Candidate David Frantz, center, triages a "victim" in the van while Lynn Tumblety, left, and candidate Marty Richstein, right, get ready to assist.
"B" Team Leader, candidate Neil Valladares gets a status update from candidate Lynn Tumblety while other candidates Bill Zupko and Keturah Harris-Brown assist the "victims".	"B" Team Leader, candidate Neil Valladares gives instructions while candidate Ryan Richstein (hands on stretcher) and his father candidate Marty Richstein prepare to remove a "victim" from the van. Candidate Lynn Tumblety, far left, stands-by to assist.	Team member Debbi Hutt did and OUTSTANDING job playing the hysterical "mother" wanting to "get to her child".  "B" Team Leader, candidate Neil Valladares does his best to calm "mom" and convince her to wait near the "treatment area".	Despite the cold weather, the kids were having a great time and finding it very difficult to "stay in character".	Candidate Ryan Richstein, standing, center, surveys the "treatment area" while candidate Bill Zupko, kneeling, gets vital information from a "victim" as candidates Lynn Tumblety and Keturah Harris-Brown assist.
"Hysterical Mom" team member Debbi Hutt waits near the "treatment area" for word on her "child".	Another "busy scene".  Candidates Ryan Richstein, left, and Ray Burgio, right lower a victim on a stretcher, while candidate David Frantz, center prepares to render first aid.  "B" Team Leader, candidate Neil Valladares supervises while team member John O'Brien play the roll of "unsolicited, spontaneous volunteer". Candidate Marty Richstein, back to camera, tends to a "victim".	Candidate Keturah Harris-Brown comforts team member Charlotte Toke who played a "victim" during the exercise.	Even though it was cold outside, the kid had a lot of fun and knew that when it was all over, they were going to be treated to pizza and soda by Team Leader Lowell Aube.	Knowing the importance of documentation, candidate Bill Zupko, left, gets information from a "victim" while candidate Ryan Richstein looks on.
Team Leader Lowell Aube, back to the camera, "debriefs" the candidates as to how they did during the final exam.	The debriefing continues as each key item of the drill is reviewed letting the candidates know what they did right and what they did wrong.	The candidates pose with their instructor and their team leader.  From left to right: Ryan Richstein, Neil Valladares, Instructor Joe Formola, Marty Richstein, Lynn Tumblety, David Frantz, Ray Burgio, Bill Zupko, Team Leader Lowell Aube, and Keturah Harris-Brown.	After a very successful final exam, they can no longer be called "candidates".  Here are the newest members of the Woodbridge Township Community Emergency Response Team. WELCOME ABOARD!	Team Leader Lowell Aube thanks the kids and team members for their assistance during the drill.  Everyone played an important role in helping the newest C.E.R.T. members through their final exam.

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