MHS Students get CERT-ified

Photo courtesy of Tiare Hubbard.

Fourteen students from Molokai High School (MHS) joined peers from across the state for an emergency response training day on Maui. 

As part of the FEMA funded program, which ran from Oct. 9-11 at Baldwin High School, students were given Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. These programs ranged from CPR to fire response to search and rescue, reducing survivor stress and more. 

MHS students in the Nursing and Health pathway who are interested in careers in health, firefighting or emergency response mostly made up the ranks of the Molokai student participants. 

“One of the most valuable things I have gained from CERT training are skills necessary to save lives, whether it be performing CPR, or learning how to use a fire extinguisher,” said MHS senior Sonni Han. “I can take these skills I learned and share them with [my] family and community.” 

The multi-day event brought attendees from schools across Hawaii. This show of statewide support made a strong impression on those students who attended. 

“Not only did we get a hands-on experience and obtain knowledge that can be used for unexpected disasters, but we also got to work with other schools from different islands,” explained MHS Junior No’eau Lenwai. 

This is the first time that MHS students have gone off-island to complete CERT training. The Maui fires served as a painful backdrop for this year’s event, reminding all attendees just how critical it is to be prepared for an emergency. 

“The most valuable thing is the power of unity in times of crisis,” said MHS Sophomore Angel Criste.