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Emergency Services Newsletter - Southeastern PA |
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One
of the final school-year activities of the Red Cross Clubs program, a
three-year partnership between the SEPA Chapter and the School
District of Philadelphia, was a mini-Disaster Services Training and
Simulation on June 7th, 2006.
AmeriCorps member Emily Speak and ES Training & Volunteer Development Coordinator Nancy Berger provided an abbreviated version of the Introduction to Disaster and Shelter Operations courses for members of the South Philadelphia Red Cross Club. After learning the essentials of disaster response and shelter management, the club members, Red Cross staff and several volunteers were all assigned specific roles and had a brief opportunity to review their responsibilities before starting the simulation. In less than an hour, the students experienced many of the challenges of operating a shelter including registering and comforting clients--many of whom needed immediate health services or spiritual care--setting up cots, and preparing food services. During the simulation debriefing, students shared how they were somewhat overwhelmed in their various roles, and reflected on what they might have done differently. Overall, they felt they gained a better understanding of the Red Cross' role in disaster response and thought a larger simulation for more Club members would be valuable. The Red Cross Club program staff would like to thank the ES staff and volunteers who participated in the simulation: Craig Crosby, Jacqueline Gladden, Jessie Helwig, Vicki Hertlein, Terry Johnson, Steve Loielo, and Katy Sharp.
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