Campion teachers trained for emergency response

While students were just beginning their summer break, Campion teachers and staff headed back to class.  Chris Wolf, of Fort Collins Poudre Fire Authority, instructed teachers in the Federal Emergency Management System’s (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) which also includes included the Incident Command System.  Campion Academy’s campus is being designated as a potential shelter area in the case of a major incident, such as a flood or fire, in which large groups of people need to be evacuated and cared for. 
 
Principal Don Reeder says, “Our staff needed to be trained in order to effectively respond in the event of a disaster and know what their roles and responsibilities are.  We have the appropriate facilities and we want to be able to support our community in times of need.”
 
In order to appropriately respond to an incident, each volunteer needs to be aware of the overall plan and respect the chain of command.  The teachers learned about how the organizational structure set in place by NIMS can help us to better prepare for and respond to an emergency.
 
“You can either be part of the solution by following the appropriate procedures, or you may be part of the problem by self-deploying,” said Cathy Kissner, Rocky Mountain Conference Adventist Community Services Director. 
 
Following this course, Kissner spoke to the teachers about the role of Adventist Community Services (ACS) in assisting victims of disasters.  “We are the state of Colorado’s preferred donations manager in an event that reaches the state level,” she explained. “By getting trained and being involved in donation management, Campion Academy teachers and students can show the love of the Father by meeting the needs of people in the community in a disaster.”    
 
Through this training, Campion Academy has sought to learn from and partner with emergency responders in our area.  Our aim is to improve our ability to keep students safe and reach out to help others in the community when they are in need. 
 
Article by Jill Harlow
Photo Credit: Don Reeder