On June 17-19, twenty-six teens from across Oklahoma gathered in Sulphur for the first My Pi camp ever held in the state. My Pi is used to shorten the name “My Preparedness Initiative” the official name for the 32-hour training and certification program based on the national CERT program. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team and is the model used by FEMA across the nation for training. The My PI has additional pieces added to enrich the teen learning experience.
The camp was a partnership with the OSU Extension Service, Murray County Emergency Manager Brian McDaniel, and the Pediatric Pandemic Network and Pediatric Emergency Medicine of the OU Health Sciences Center. Financial sponsors for the camp included Pontotoc County 4-H and OHCE, Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, Murray County OHCE and two grants from the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation and Extension Leadership Mini Grants.
Some of the topics the teens received training in included Disaster Preparedness, CERT Organization, Disaster Medical Operations, Disaster Psychology, Fire Safety and Utility Controls, Light Search and Rescue and Terrorism.
Additional topics addressed included wildfires, tornadoes, severe heat and cold as well as several other possible disasters that could occur in our state.
Sulphur Assistant Fire Chief Tracey Laxton, left, demonstrates how to shut off utilities and disconnect lines of flammable products.
Brad Lancaster, center, Murray County EMS Director, spent several hours with the students teaching basic first aid, how to stop bleeding as well as several other topics that the students might encounter. PHOTOS COURTESY OSU EXTENSION
Davis student Jack Parsons, right, earns his CPR certificate through instructors of Southern Oklahoma Technology Center. PHOTOS COURTESY OSU EXTENSION
RIGHT:Brian McDaniel,Murray County Emergency Management Director, presented several sessions ranging from light search and rescue to necessary personal protection equipment.
State Teens
Assisting as guest presenters were representatives from the Sulphur Fire Department and the Emergency Medical Services for Murray County. These speakers gave a variety of hands-on experiences from using a fire extinguisher to stopping the bleed as well as basic first aid to transporting the wounded.
The final step for the class and a requirement to graduate included preparing 7 “ready to go” bags for six families as well as their own, with each bag filled with emergency supplies to aid a family for the first 72 hours following a disaster. This prep plus 6 will reach a total of 182 Oklahoma families.
Three Murray County teens completed the training, those included Caleb Horton from Davis, Jack Parson of Davis and Dannah Buhrmester of Sulphur.
The final impact the program may have is on career choice with many various career paths available in this field.
Students learned the different types of fire extinguishers and how to actively put out a small fire. PHOTO COURTESY OSU EXTENSION
