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| Class trains teens for emergencies |
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| Written by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator / | |
| Saturday, 13 October 2007 | |
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“This was just, like, the starting point. And one day, I would like to learn more. You have to see what the situation is and try to handle it — if you can’t, call 9-1-1.” - Viviana Garcia  Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator So, the four migrant-education students, along with teacher Bernie Rangel, attended a three-Saturday Community Emergency Response Team training in Modesto last month. Seniors Gonzalez, 17, and Gutierrez and Moran, both 18, and junior Garcia, 15, joined others from Waterford, Ceres, and Modesto migrant education programs. “I want to learn how to help people,” Gutierrez said. “I want to use it for my career. I want to be a fireman right here in Patterson.” Maria Alvarez, county director of the Migrant Education Programs, said migrant education joined with the Community Emergency Response Team to train students who could help their communities in times of need. The teens can help get their Spanish-speaking neighbors prepared for an emergency, through meetings at school and in the community, she said. And if a natural disaster hits, they can help translate for emergency responders and their neighbors and families. Their training covered preparing for disasters, taking care of medical operations in an emergency and treating life-threatening injuries. Fire safety lessons included how to identify potential fire hazards in the home and how to remove a victim safely from a threatening situation. Moran said she learned everything from how to rescue people — when a simulated wall fell down and someone was trapped underneath — to the importance of labeling detergents, some of which must not be stored together. “They showed us how to turn the gas off and make sure we know where it’s located,” Moran said. Garcia said the group also received certificates for learning CPR. “This was just, like, the starting point. And one day, I would like to learn more,” said Garcia, who wants to be a teacher. “You have to see what the situation is and try to handle it — if you can’t, call 9-1-1.” The students can use their newly found skills at home, at school and on the job. “I thought it was something new and interesting to learn in case I might need it in the future,” Gonzalez said. “I never did anything like this before.” Gonzalez says he wants to attend a college in the California State University system and study criminal justice after he graduates from Patterson High. “It was a great experience,” Gonzalez said. “I learned how to prepare in case of a natural disaster or a flood in my community.” Moran, who wants to be a criminologist, said the class was a perfect start. “It’s something I’m going to use my whole life to help my community and help my family,” she said. “Chief (Donald) Parker and his unit presented some interesting and useful information that can be used around the home,” Rangel said. “It’s useful for first responders in a natural or manmade emergency.” Rangel found the sessions so compelling, he’s since applied to be a volunteer in the Modesto Fire Department. “I was impressed by the presentations,” he said. “The ‘hands-on’ part was fun but furious — the firefighting, search and rescue and first aid.” Latino Emergency Communications has been part of an effort to provide timely information and support to the Spanish-speaking communities in Stanislaus County. The LEC has worked with more than 20 organizations — including the Hispanic Leadership Council and El Concilio — to provide information, resources and trained volunteers who will be ready to support the public officials in case of an emergency. Training was also provided in Spanish. “This is a major contribution to all of the communities who need to work together in times of big need,” Alvarez said. To reach Maddy Houk at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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