CERT In The News
CERT Member places first at MIXER Conference
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Jeff Brown (right) treating a gun shot wound victim during the final scenario at MIXER.
This past weekend, November 6th to 8th, members of the UOIT/DC Campus Emergency Response Team attended the MIXER medical conference at McGill University.
The conference gathered Emergency Response Teams from across Ontario and Quebec who took part in medical seminars, as well as a competition.
On Sunday, 17 teams, consisting of over 50 responders from different schools, competed in a competition where several mock scenarios were created to test responders'
abilities to treat and assess patients under real life conditions. UOIT/DC CERT has the honour of having one of our very own responders as a member of the first place team.
Jeff Brown, CERT's Communications Coordinator, was one of three responders who placed first in the competition.
CERT is very proud of this accomplishment, and would like to congratulate Jeff on his success.
CERT volunteers are dedicated
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
By Kris Gyivicsan
Chronicle Staff
With thousands of new and familiar students arriving on campus this school year, the Campus Emergency Response Team brings a feeling of great relief to the student body.
The Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT), and its 60 plus volunteer members are on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week at the Oshawa campus to ensure that in the event of an emergency, the proper medical attention will be available to everyone on campus.
Their training, provided by St. John Ambulance, allows them to carry a wide range of medical care equipment and gives them the status of Advanced Medical First Responder, which in essence means they are first to the scene, and will determine whether outside house from EMS is needed.
If you haven't heard of CERT, it might be because they have only been a part of our campus for three years. But since 2006, these dedicated men and women have made a difference to campus life ensuring that students, faculty and guests alike remain safe and healthy.
Last school year alone, CERT responded to over 300 calls, in a matter of 215 days, and in the first 11 days of this school year, they had attended 20 calls.
Without CERT students would have to wait longer for emergency responses especially with a large and hectic campus.
We should all be thankful there are students on campus who are dedicated enough to volunteer their time (8,300 hours last year) to ensure that the student body remains healthy and safe, and that no one is left waiting to be taken to hospital.
Students rest assured, CERT has got your back.
CERT dedicated to safety of students and staff alike
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
By Kris Gyivicsan
Chronicle Staff
A group of volunteers on campus have dedicated their time and efforts to ensuring the safety of all students, faculty, and guests, which has proven successful in their first three years.
"The Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of student volunteers trained by St John Ambulance, to provide medical coverage to the Durham College, UOIT, and Trent campus in Oshawa" says CERT communications co-ordinator Jeff Brown.
This training accredits the team with the level of advanced medical first responder, which allows CERT to asses the scene of an emergency and determine whether they require EMS assistance.
The group of 60-plus volunteers is the biggest in the Durham St. John unit. They have two responders and an executive member on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Oshawa campus for each school year.
"They run their shifts on three-hour intervals throughout the day beginning at 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. with their 12-hour overnight shift beginning at 8 p.m.
CERT also operates at the Whitby campus Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are equipped with full trauma equipment, including oxygen administration equipment and defibrillators, allowing them to provide an extensive medical care to patients on campus which has proven to be a great advantage as the team responded to over 300 calls in 215 academic days last year.
Although some members of CERT are enrolled in medical-related programs, it is not a prerequisite.
"It's an opportunity for basically anybody who has any interest in some form of first aid to come out and get some hands-on experience," said Brown.
The team has been recognized within the community for their hard work and dedication, receiving awards including the Medical First Responder Award presented to CERT for clocking more than 8,300 volunteer hours over the past school year, more than any St. John community service unit in Durham Region
Brown said he hopes this will show the community that the school not only cares about students' academic success, but also the well-being of the student body.
"It has been a very quick and drastic change from where we were to where we are now," said Brown who has seen the team grow from an office and a phone in its first year to 60-plus members, working 24 hours.
"If it's any indication of where were going to be in the next five years then it's incredible what this team is doing and how we're building our presence on campus."
Campus Emergency Response Team receives award for volunteerism
Monday, July 27th, 2009
Richard Armstrong, left, director of Durham Emergency Medical Services, and Steve McNenly, right, assistant director, present Jamere Bembridge with the Medical First Responder Award.
Durham College's Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) and one of its student members have received honours for their many hours of volunteer dedication over the past academic year.
The Durham Branch of St. John Ambulance recently recognized CERT in a ceremony for covering the most on-duty volunteer hours within Durham Region. At the same time, Jamere Bembridge, administrative co-ordinator for CERT, was presented with the Medical First Responder Award by Durham Region Emergency Medical Services for completing the most individual volunteer hours in Durham Region.
CERT is a volunteer, emergency medical response team run by students at Durham College and its campus partner, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, through funding provided by the Student Association. Its role is to provide medical first-response services to all students, faculty, staff and guests on campus.
"I am part of CERT because I want to give back to the community," said Bembridge. "I enjoy helping other people when they need it most. It's a good way to learn lifesaving skills that can be applied to anyone, anywhere, at anytime. It also helps with getting leadership experience as everyone is looking to you for guidance in an emergency situation."
CERT currently has 60 volunteers and functions 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the academic year. Last year, CERT members logged 8,322 hours. This is the second year in a row CERT has been honoured.
CERT's members are trained to the advanced medical first responder level by St. John Ambulance and are able to perform patient assessments and give care based on those assessments.
"We carry tools such as defibrillators, artificial airways used to protect a patient's airway, oxygen to administer to patients having breathing difficulties, and many other tools used in the patient care field," said Bembridge.
CERT was founded in 2006 and is one of the many student-driven organizations that make a difference in the campus community.
