Cape school district employees take emergency response training

Cape Girardeau's is one of several local school districts that has undergone or plans to take training.

The screams coming from the darkened hallway were enough to set anyone on edge.

"Help me! I'm dying!"

"Over here, I need help now!"

Even knowing the situation wasn't real didn't keep the rescuers' hearts from speeding up a bit as they faced the task of sorting through the "victims."

Triage is just one part of emergency response that employees in the Cape Girardeau School District spent two days this week learning.

Through the Community Emergency Response Training program, Cape Girardeau teachers, custodians, administrators and secretaries have learned search and rescue techniques, fire suppression, medical assessment and other disaster-related operations.

"It's been really good. I've learned a lot," said Brenda McCowen, assistant principal at Central Junior High, where the training was held.

The group of 40 donned hard hats, neon yellow vests and backpacks loaded with rescue equipment and went through a search and rescue simulation. They used fire extinguishers to put out a blaze and learned how to recognize symptoms of shock.

"When it really gets down to it, student safety is the most important part of a school," said Fred Jones, safety coordinator for the district. "This contributes to the staff's understanding of what to do in a disaster."

Cape Girardeau's is one of several local school districts that has undergone the training or has plans to do so later this summer.

All of Jackson School District's teachers have gone through CERT, and employees in the Perryville School District and St. Paul Lutheran School have scheduled training sessions as well.

The program operates through the help of several local groups including the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, American Red Cross, Southeast Missouri State University and local emergency and law enforcement agencies.

Jane Stough, local CERT coordinator, said businesses, hospitals and other organizations have found the training helpful, but that it's especially beneficial in schools.

"It's very important, we believe, to get this training schools to protect our most valuable asset -- our children," said Stough.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128