CERT

During the spring semester arrival period, Feb. 5–8, volunteers from Wesleyan's Campus-Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) assisted with welcoming students to campus, checking them in, and ensuring they had a COVID-19 test within five days of arriving on campus. Members also shoveled snow to keep paths clear and delivered students' suitcases, via an ATV, to their residences. Joe Fountain, director of athletic injury care, loaned the Athletics Department ATV to C-CERT for this purpose. Wesleyan's C-CERT group consists of staff, faculty, and student volunteers. (Photos by Olivia Drake and Roseann Sillasen) (more…)

Wesleyan's Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT), Public Safety, Physical Plant, and other staff participated in a joint exercise on June 11 to test the area’s ability to respond to a real-life emergency. Wesleyan partnered with health and public safety departments from Mass Dispensing Area (MDA) 36—which includes Cromwell, Durham, Middlefield, and Middletown, Conn.—and the Middletown and Portland CERT teams on the drill. The full-scale six-hour exercise took take place at the University’s Freeman Athletic Center and Coles Road Fire Station in Cromwell. Many local senior citizens and members of the Wesleyan community volunteered to play the role of patients. Emergency responders…

On Oct. 17, Wesleyan’s Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) toured the basement level, or “tunnels” of the Butterfield complex. Built in 1965, the Butterfields encompassed 166,000 gross square feet in three separate dormitory buildings — A, B and C — which are connected by vibrant, graffiti-rich underground tunnels. Through the years, the tunnels served as passageways to student residences, classrooms, administration offices, recreational areas, restrooms, laundry rooms, study areas, kitchenettes, mechanical areas, a mailroom, photographic darkrooms and even a kosher kitchen. Skateboarders marked the ground with safe paths, noting where to stop at blind corners. Artists, poets and writers…

On July 13, Wesleyan's Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) welcomed 11 new members to the group. Formed in September 2009, Wesleyan’s C-CERT members are trained to assist first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize volunteers at a disaster site. (more…)

(more…)

On Jan. 6, Wesleyan's Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) trainees participated in a team-building exercise. While working in groups of three and four, the teams each had five minutes to plan how they’d construct a 5-foot-tall, free standing tower using only paper, two sheets of cardboard, tape and scissors. After developing a plan, the groups had five minutes to build their structure.

This fall, Wesleyan’s Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) is offering a free training course to any Wesleyan faculty, staff or student interested in helping the campus community. Formed in September 2009, Wesleyan’s C-CERT members are trained to assist first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize volunteers at a disaster site. The 20-hour program, which is supported by a grant from the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, includes sessions such as Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety and Utility Controls, Disaster Medical Operations, Light Search and Rescue Operations, CERT Organization, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism and Disaster Simulation. All participants receive their…

On Aug. 3, more than 20 Wesleyan employees helped erect a tent on Andrus Field that could be used as a medical facility in the event of an emergency situation. The inflatable tent, which measures 60 by 30 feet, is 1/5 of the complete Ottilie W. Lundgren Memorial Field Hospital owned by the State of Connecticut. If all sections of the tent were assembled, it would contain a 125-bed unit, an operating room, ambulatory care and triage areas. (more…)

On March 20, Wesleyan’s Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) participated in a day-long training program to prepare for a public health emergency. The training, coordinated by the Connecticut Department of Health’s Division of Public Health Preparedness and Response Strategic National Stockpile Program, taught C-CERT members how to organize a Mass Dispensing Area and effectively receive, process, ship and recover stockpile medical assets. Wesleyan C-CERT members, made up of faculty and staff, joined participants from the Middletown Department of Health, Cromwell Department of Health, Middletown Emergency Management, Middletown Fire Department and Middletown Police Department. The training took place in the…

In the event of a public health emergency, Wesleyan's Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) may be deployed to help distribute medicine and medical supplies to the Wesleyan and Middletown community. On March 20, the C-CERT team, made up of Wesleyan faculty and staff, will undergo a day-long training program to prepare for such emergencies. The training, coordinated by the Connecticut Department of Health's Division of Public Health Preparedness and Response Strategic National Stockpile Program, will teach C-CERT members how to organize a Mass Dispensing Area and effectively receive, process, ship and recover stockpile medical assets. "If there's ever a…

(more…)

On Jan. 11, a small explosion in Usdan University Center's mechanical room left several staff and students trapped inside with possible injuries. "We've got a situation," says Bill Nelligan, director of environmental health, safety and sustainability. "Please gather your gear and head to the basement." A group of six Wesleyan staff members, trained in light search and rescue techniques, quickly prepare for the task. They sport reflective vests, safety helmets, goggles and gloves, and carry a backpack equipped with flashlights, duct tape, first-aid kits, tools and blankets. Team leader Allen Alonzo, associate director of information technology auxiliary services, breaks the…

C-CERT Assists with Student Arrival Period

Wesleyan Employees Participate in Regional Emergency Preparedness Drill

C-CERT Explores Closed Butterfield Basement and Former Tunnel System

C-CERT Welcomes 11 New Members

C-CERT Members Take Annual Oath, Prepare Supplies

C-CERT Trainees Participate in Team-Building Exercise

Help Wesleyan Community, Build Camaraderie as C-CERT Member

Wesleyan C-CERT Builds Mobile Medical Facility on Andrus Field

Wesleyan Hosts Public Health Emergency Training

Wesleyan to Host Public Health Emergency Training March 20

C-CERT Team Keeps Campus Safe after Winter Storm Nemo

C-CERT Team Trained to Assist Wesleyan Community in Disaster Situations