Red Cross Academy training available in July

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A partnership between the American Red Cross and Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff could pay huge dividends throughout the region in the event of a disaster.

The partnership is bringing the Red Cross Academy to Southeast Missouri from July 10 through 13. With that comes training for individuals, churches and organizations in the area.

The academy will offer a series of free courses over the four days that will center around disaster services, health and safety and preparedness and resilience.

Among the classes offered will be education on how to react to an active shooter, how to get a congregation involved after a disaster and various other preparedness courses ideal for community leaders and business owners.

A number of traditional courses will be offered as well, including psychological first aid, CPR/AED/First Aid and instructor courses.

Individuals may join for a few courses, a full day or all four days, and there are several schedule options from which to choose. Each day will center around a different type of event.

Day one will be aimed at community partners and COADs [Community Organizations Active in Disaster]. This would be ideal for local groups interested in lending a hand in times of disaster and could include anyone from a local civic organization to state or local governmental agencies. Classes in this group will include ways to coordinate and plan a disaster response action.

Day two of the academy will be aimed at faith-based organizations and the role they play in disaster recovery.

"We simply couldn't handle disaster response without the local faith community," said Regional Emergency Services Coordinator Jamie Koehler of the American Red Cross.

Courses will include how to be role models in disaster preparedness, preparation and planning for severe weather during church, and continuity operations planning. The latter course deals with how to respond to a disaster when a church is destroyed. It also will instruct churches on important preventative measures such as backing up computers and setting up alternative service locations.

"Basically, we want to give them a menu of things they could do and teach them how to do them," Koehler said.

Day three of the event will be aimed at emergency responders and fire departments.

The free training will include classes on being a disaster front-line supervisor, understanding the stages of disaster and shelter fundamentals.

Day four will be geared toward individuals and family involvement in disaster response.

Among the classes offered under the schedule will be tools for community preparedness leaders, logistics and understanding the stages of disaster.

Stoddard County Emergency Manager Kent Polsgrove believes this will be a good training opportunity for individuals in Stoddard County, as well.

"I think the training is excellent for anyone interested in helping during a disaster," Polsgrove said in an email to The Daily Statesman. "Individuals with Red Cross training can work as a Red Cross volunteer during disasters like in Joplin, Mo. and Moore, Okla."

For more information on the Red Cross Academy and how to become involved, visit redcross.org.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.