Michigan teens get SERT training | 02.21.2007 | 07:24:56 | Views: 6297 | ID: February 21 '07: In Burton, Michigan, students at Faith High School are working with local firefighters to train for the Student Emergency Response Team certificate in the hopes that they will be able to help first responders in the event of a disaster that affects their schools, the Flint Journal reported via LexisNexis. The SERT training is being taught during Faith High School Health Teacher Jessica Mathiak's class. In total, the students will receive anywhere from 20 to 35 hours of training. Once finished, they will have the ability to help first responders during an emergency, as well, they will be the designated student contacts for emergency response in the school. The curriculum to teach the students was provided by Eastern Michigan University. Burton Firefighter James Mather is teaching the class. He told the kids before the class began, "You'll be learning things that might upset you, so please let us know." Burton Fire Battalion Commander Ken Baker told the Journal, "We hope they never have to use this stuff, but there's a lot of training being put in place in case they do." During training, the students use backpacks provided by federal grant money that contain emergency response equipment. Those backpacks are then stored in the school and are accessible by the SERT teams during an emergency. The training was specialized for Michigan's location and climate so the training focused on tornados and winter storms. Organizers say they would like to take the classes to all schools in the Burton area and are looking for more sophomores and juniors interested.
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