Public exposure

Yesterday at the local Harvest Festival we were again co-located with the FD. This time they had a smoke house, stop/drop/roll, jump out the window, etc. feature which attracted kids and their parents/families. Since a line formed behind the table where they got to try a 911 call and hear what a smoke alarm sounds like, I had them standing with me for a few minutes at a time, with a bunch of small-print handouts in black and white. Between 10 AM and 5 PM, here's how we kicked it up a notch or three:

1. No one was picking up or keeping the handouts. I slipped to the next table, and slipped one into each kids' safety manual. I kept a small reserve for my table. Over 200 went out.

2. I had my backpack on the table but no takers. I spread out the basic equipment, I let kids handle and wear the basic gear (explaining why you don't wear other people's dust masks), and their parents became somewhat engaged.

3. I developed a hook line: "I'll bet you never heard of CERT before? No cars, no station houses, no TV shows". I then went on to explain the acronym and tell people it was about preparedness, response, then helping others.

4. I wore my boots, but over them jeans and a sport shirt, no paramilitary stuff or workshirt. (With my beard and wrinkled face I scare enough small kids, thanks!). That was to combat the perception of preparedness as being geeky or "survivalist".

5. My daughter, who is trained and experienced working with small children as well as a current CERT trainee, dropped in and made the interactions even easier. She's shorter, younger, nicer looking, less imposing... more approachable.

I'm hoping we get at least a couple dozen inquiries.