Emergency Preparedness in Berkeley: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals through Community Training

Introduction

The City of Berkeley is committed to enhancing community resilience by offering in-person emergency preparedness classes. These initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by empowering residents to effectively respond to and recover from disasters.

Overview of Disaster Medical Operations II Class

The Disaster Medical Operations II class is the fourth session in a seven-unit Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) series designed to equip participants with practical skills for disaster scenarios affecting the Bay Area and Berkeley.

Key Learning Objectives

1. Establish a medical triage area and administer basic first aid.
2. Conduct assessments of individuals for wounds and injuries.
3. Expand on first aid techniques introduced in Disaster Medical Operations I, including:

• Dressing and bandaging wounds
• Treating burns, fractures, dislocations, sprains, and strains
• Managing bloody noses, bites, and stings

Course Structure and Prerequisites

• This class requires completion of Disaster Medical Operations I as a prerequisite.
• Each unit provides hands-on experience to prepare participants for real-life disaster situations.

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: By teaching essential medical response skills, the program enhances community health resilience.
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Training residents fosters safer, more prepared urban environments.
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Collaboration between local government and community members strengthens disaster preparedness networks.

Additional Resources and Registration

Residents interested in participating can learn more about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. Updates and registration for upcoming classes are available on the Berkeley Ready Eventbrite page.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article focuses on disaster medical operations, first aid, and emergency medical response, which directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The emphasis on community emergency preparedness and response aligns with making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education – The provision of in-person emergency preparedness classes contributes to inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 3 Targets:
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
2. SDG 11 Targets:
   • Target 11.5: Reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and vulnerable.
   • Target 11.b: Increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters.
3. SDG 4 Targets:
   • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
   • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including disaster risk reduction.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Indicator for SDG 3.d:
   • Number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies that are being implemented and tested through regular training and exercises (implied through the emergency preparedness classes and hands-on training).
2. Indicators for SDG 11.5 and 11.b:
   • Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population (implied goal of reducing through community preparedness).
   • Proportion of local governments adopting and implementing disaster risk reduction strategies (implied by the Community Emergency Response Team program).
3. Indicators for SDG 4.3 and 4.7:
   • Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the last 12 months, by sex (implied through the in-person emergency preparedness classes).
   • Extent to which education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles are mainstreamed in education systems (implied by the disaster preparedness curriculum).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: berkeleyca.gov