La Quinta Cove

The City of La Quinta sponsored two days of classes for staff and CERT volunteers last week.  CPR, AED, and First Aid were topics, given by a trainer from the American Heart Association.  Here you see the Infant CPR session, with infant “dummies” for each trainee.  There was lots of practice and plenty of useful information during the day-long session.  The session was held in the Emergency Operations Center at City Hall.

http://youtu.be/SJ83dl_3KLw

Here’s Susan Miller who was one of 30 volunteers trained at the City Emergency Operations Center on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  She will tell you all about it (‘way to go, Susan).

http://www.youtube.com/user/CovePotato#p/a/u/0/QI8Ekyaciyw

How can YOU get training for your family and neibhgorhood?  Call Paul Hess, 777-7061 or email at phess@la-quinta.org

Old Town was the site for La Quinta’s first “Preparedness Party” to make citizens more aware of resources and preparations needed in case of a major disaster.  Floods, power outage, earthquake, chemical spill….it COULD happen.   In addition to incident vehicles from IID, fire department, and police, our local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) demonstrated techniques to assist in the neighborhoods should the need arise.  Here’s a look:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh3579TA8Gk

Here’s a glimpse of the CERT trainees’ class in the Emergency Operations Center in the basement of  LQ City Hall.  When the Big One comes, this will be the nerve center of the emergency response by City staff and other agencies, such as the fire department, Red Cross, utilities, and trailed CERT volunteers.

Paul Hess has recently been assigned the crucial job of helping La Quinta prepare for future emergencies.  He readies not only the City’s Emergency Operations Center, where staff will coordinate activities in the event of an emergency, but he will be helping our neighborhoods get organized also.  Here’s Paul:

CERT volunteer, Pat Byrne, discusses home preparedness for future disasters.  (That’s the Community Emergency Response Term, being trained to aid the community in the event of a disaster.)  Listen up:

That nice 5.4 bounce on Wednesday should be a gentle reminder to GET THOSE EARTHQUAKE KITS, PLANS, AND SUPPLIES UPDATED.  Food supplies sufficient and current (fresh)?  Water fresh?  Know how to turn off the INTAKE VALVE to your water heater (so that your tank will remain pure and drinkable when our water supply is contaminated)?  Know how to turn off your gas line if you smell gas?  What happens if your family is in various places and someone can’t get home or contact home?  Got copies of your insurance policies and account numbers?  GOT CASH? Need guidance?  Visit the CERT website at http://www.laquintacert.org/ for lists and ideas.

GET BUSY!!!!

LQ CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) participated in a Home Depot earthquake event on Saturday.  The major excitement was the trailer that simulated a 7.5-8.0 earthquake.  Take a look at the jolt, then get busy on your earthquake kit: get it started or refresh your food and water….  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI_lqBKGxwk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x7ev03r2Wk

LQ Council woman, Linda Evans, welcomes local police, fire and CERT members at a BBQ during National EMS Week. Evans is an administrator at JFK Hospital, who sponsored the event to bring together ER staff and EMS workers across the Coachella Valley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfbnRRtxN7I

Plenty of performers and community organizations attracted large crowds on Saturday morning at the La Quinta Park (across from the high school).  The following links take you to

• After school dance class from Franklin School http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctW9LcjMxho
• La Quinta CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zcWya47F30
• La Quinta Citizens on Patrol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEdlBc5Ga84