An earthquake just struck and people are injured, scared and screaming.

Now what?

If you are fortunate enough to be in or around Holy Child School in Arnold, there will be a number of youngsters ready to assist those around them in emergencies of all sorts.

Eighth-graders at the Catholic school are taking part in the Teen CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) program from Rock Community Fire Protection District. Rock Community recently put the Holy Child School Teen CERT squad though a disaster response drill.

Students who took part in the exercise said they could see how what they were learning could help them save lives.

"I feel like I could help in a crisis," student Kelli Moore said. "I like when we have the seventh-graders act like victims. That's taught me a lot."

Classmate Ted Mallette said the training should allow the Teen CERT members keep cool heads during a crisis.

"The hardest part will be dealing with kids, if they start running wild because they're scared," he said. "We've been taught how to try and control them or, if you can't, to move on to the next one."

Ron Harder, the fire district's public information officer, spoke of what the program was offering to the youngsters.

"They're learning to think outside the box," he said. "They'll learn how to use debris for cribbing to lift heavy objects off of victims. They'll learn how to put out small fires. They'll also be taught how to search a room for victims who may be trapped from falling debris. We teach first aid and triage to sort through the victims.

"We train for tornado, earthquake, fire and mass evacuation, such as a flood or hazardous material spill."

CERT programs have existed for more than two decades around the nation.

Harder said the thought behind the effort is that while there are not enough emergency response personnel to help everyone in times of crisis, members of the public who are properly trained may prove to be valuable to others on those occasions.

"The key is to learn to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people," Harder said.

Rock Community has been actively recruiting people of all ages to go through CERT training.

"(Holy Child) is one of the youngest groups we've done" he said. "And, Holy Child is the first private school I've worked with. Rock Community has Teen CERT groups at Fox High, Windsor High, Windsor Middle and a new one at Ridgewood Middle, along with this one.

"Rock Community's Adult CERT program is one of the largest in the area with 60 members."

Rock Community puts students who want to get involved in the training through a two-day course. They must pass a CERT test to be certified in the program. Those who become certified receive a backpack that contains such emergency response equipment as helmets, forcible entry items, a first aid kit and tools. The tools are included for use in shutting off gas and other utilities, Harder explained.

Holy Child Principal Ron Cowell said he is pleased to have his students receive the training.

"This is a great resource for the school and the community," he said. "Today's drill is on an earthquake so the children can help at the school and in the community. I feel like the training is valuable."

Harder complimented the Holy Child students for their work during the drill.

"We don't pull any punches," he said. "We teach them there are going to be bloody students and dead students, psychologically affected students. We teach them to keep focused on their mission.

"I'm proud of these kids. They're doing a great job."

The Rock Community Fire Protection District offers CERT programs for adults and teens. For information about the emergency response training courses, contact Rock Community Public Information Officer Ron Harder at (636) 296-2211.