Baldwin High School students conduct a blanket carry during a disaster simulation on May 13. — Photo courtesy of Baldwin High School

Baldwin High School students learned about search and rescue techniques, fire suppression and triage during a disaster simulation on May 13.

The activity was part of the MyPI (My Preparedness Initiative) Hawaii program with the Maui County Community Emergency Response Team and Maui County firefighters.

Students from the Public and Human Service Core Classes, Junior ROTC and Health Occupations classes learned how to perform a search-and-rescue/damage assessment by looking at photos of different buildings and their damage status, as well as assessing for people, animals, fire damage and hazards.

They also did a fire suppression with a fake extinguisher and a digital fire, as well as a blanket carry where one student was a victim and the others supported the person’s head and back.

Students then participated in a triage station where they assessed for airway, bleeding and shock and tagged the victim as immediate, dead, delayed or minor.

The simulation concluded with a first aid/head-to-toe assessment to look for injuries such as contusions, abrasions and lacerations. Students examined, described, and tagged pictures of people’s wounds and had to explain how they would treat the patient and why they gave them a certain tag for treatment.

For more information about the program, contact Nancy Ooki at the University of Hawaii Maui County Extension office at ooki@hawaii.edu or (808) 244-3242, ext. 225.

For information about the CERT Program or how to get involved, contact CERT Program Manager Everett Balmores at (808) 270-7326.