Ready to Respond Corps (RRC)

SF Youth Disaster Training Series

September 2011

Ready to Respond Corps (RRC)

Thank you State Farm Youth Advisory Board for ALL your support!!!

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has awarded $72,800 in grant funding to ManaTEENs, a program of Volunteer Services of Manatee County, Inc. to enhance youth leadership in disaster preparedness projects.  ManaTEENs will partner with several organizations in the Bradenton area to promote disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response activities such as CPR, First Aid, Mouth to Snout First Aid, CERT, and creating family disaster plans.  Youth, ages 8 - 18, will have opportunities to participate in a variety of disaster preparedness leadership courses at no cost, beginning with a Blood Borne Pathogens course, offered at United Way, 1701 14th St W, Bradenton on Thursday, September 29 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.  All disaster preparedness courses are available to youth at no cost by registering in advance through ManaTEEN Emails.Class size is limited.  Register today!

"State Farm supports service-learning because it combines service to the community with classroom curriculum in a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility," said State Farm Senior Vice President Jim Thompson.  "The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a prime example of State Farm's commitment to education, our community and our youth."

"These programs are true service-learning projects as they have the youth voice, learning and reflection components, while reaching out into their respective communities." said YAB board member Augustus Bennett.

Sixty-three community organizations across the United States and Canada were selected to receive a service-learning, youth-led grant this year.  The areas of grant focus are: Access to higher education, driver safety, environmental responsibility, financial literacy, and disaster preparedness.

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has granted over $19.8 million in grant money, nationally, since its inception in 2006, empowering youth to implement service-learning in 340 communities.

We are so THRILLED to get things started!

On September 29th, we hosted our first FREE course to ManaTEENs. Bloodborne Pathogens

Training topics included: Bloodborne pathogens, prevention of disease transmission, infection control, aseptic techniques, exposure control planning, and personal protective equipment.

ManaTEENs, Volunteer Center Staff, Volunteer Center Board members and SF Media Representative Jose Soto, celebrate the launch of our Disaster Training Series, with special thanks to State Farm Youth Advisory Board!

ManaTEENs and family were invited to participate in this introduction meeting of what is to come this year!

We will be offering FREE courses such as CPR, First Aid, Disaster Planning, Emergency Meal Kits, Aging Sensitivity, Lost at Sea, Mouth to Snout CPR / First Aid and much more! Some courses will supply participants withcertification cards from ARC and/or AHA. All participants will receive service hours too!

Let's celebrate and get started!

SF Disaster Training Series

October 2011

Ready to Respond Corps (RRC)

This month ManaTEENs featured Mouth to Snout Training ( or more officially - dog and cat CPR and First Aid)

Several ManaTEENs participated in this one-day course  - learning how to properly prepare their four-legged family members in the event of a disaster, how to identify safety hazards, preventing stress and tension, rescue breathing techniques and basic first aid.   

ManaTEENs also created a "Pets in Disaster Guidebook" to distribute free at local community events and projects - educating residents about local animal care facilities, basic animal preparation topics and other helpful information for all local animal buddies.

ManaTEENs also assembled care kits for their homes, local animal shelters and animal welfare agencies.

SF Disaster Training Series

November 2011

Ready to Respond Corps (RRC)

This month ManaTEENs hosted First Aid Training

ManaTEENs participated in this one-day course  - learning basic first aid skills, wound care, emergency decision making, avoiding heat stroke, creating a safe environment etc.

ManaTEENs also participate in a disaster simulation using their new first aid skills on the spot.

 

SF Disaster Training Series

December 2011

Ready to Respond Corps (RRC)

This month ManaTEENs featured CPR and AED Training

ManaTEENs learned crucial rescue breathing techniques, Heimlich removal, identifying choking hazards, and how to properly use AED device.

 

SF Disaster Training Series

January 2012

Ready to Respond Corps (RRC)

This month ManaTEENs focused on Aging Sensitivity Training

ManaTEENs took a hands-on, interactive course learning about the challenges a senior citizen faces.

This course will help ManaTEENs understand daily struggles and  proper communication approaches  when interacting with senior citizens, epesically in crucial times of need.

A neighboring intitative.

Ready to Respond Corps (RRC)

February 2012

This month we took some time to get a course schedule ready for Spring and Summer. We are so excited to introduce new courses and activities to train our amazing members. Over 350 ManaTEENs have already participated in RRC courses and implemented a family plan in the event of a disaster. Our goal is to certify, train and inspire hundreds more in the Spring and Summer.

This Spring we will introduce two new courses with the help of our dedicated staff and skilled volunteers!

1) We will be offering survival courses ranging from Lost at Sea experiences to Storm Destruction/Black Out scenarios. Teens will participate in hands on activities that will explore conflict resolution, quick decision making, stress management, prioritizing and much more.

2) We will be hosting Family Readiness Courses to help ManaTEENs and family design a Family Plan in the event of a severe storm warning and/or evacuation. ManaTEENs will research evacuation routes and create a plan for their families, assemble Emergency Meal Kits for their family and pets, plus they will share their plans with friends and neighbors!

We are so thrilled to have the support of the State Farm Youth Advisory Board and community. This opportunity has been a such a learning experience for all involved and we feel incredibly confident that our young leaders are making true change in their communities.
This Summer begins our hurricane season and we have never felt more ready for it! ManaTEENs sign-up for these events and trainings every week! Can't wait to share more stories and pictures!!

 

March 2012

Youth who are already trained in CPR, First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens, Mouth to Snout First Aid, and VRC (Volunteer Reception Center) management initiated a Lost at Sea survival course, designed to promote boating safety and empower participates to be better prepared for emergencies on and off the water.  The remote islands off Florida's gulf coast are excellent areas to simulate the exercise.

As hurricane season approaches, youth of all ages, are planting bucket gardens that will produce a variety of vegetables throughout the summer.  Plants include tomatoes, eggplant, onions, green peppers, and herbs that are grown in 5 gallon buckets with pvc pipes providing for water and fertilization.  The buckets can be kept inside or out in small spaces.  The production of fresh vegetables for families with bucket gardens feeds them year round.  Each bucket produces more than 100 tomatoes alone each season!

April 2012

We are gearing up for this summer and setting the dates for our next training series! This summer teens will be certified in CPR, AED, First Aid, blood borne pathogens, boat safety, disaster preparedness, quick decision making, fire safety, understanding meteorology, conflict resolution, leadership, team building and so much more! We are really grateful to have such wonderful professional volunteers as trainers and so lucky to have our eager teen participants! This month was hosted New Member Orientations for our newest program members and presented at one of our local high schools about all our summer opportunities especially our State Farm Teen Ready to Respond Series!