SERVICE PROJECTS FOR CERT SUPPLIES
           Triangular Bandages:          Gathering clean sheets from the neighborhood can be an easy and inexpensive way to start getting first aid supplies.  These sheets can be used as triangular bandages and rolled bandages.  They do not need to be sterile, only clean.  The following is what was done in our area for a service project:
           Two announcements were sent out.  The first was delivered to the homes in the area two weeks before the pickup date.  This note explained what was needed and what would be done with the sheets.  The note also explained what CERT was and how the donation of sheets would help the people living in the area.  The next note was delivered the day before the pickup date to remind people.  Scouts delivered the notes and did the pickup.  All sheets gathered were then washed so they would be clean.  The hem at the top and bottom of each sheet was removed.  The bottom hem was thrown away.  The top hem had the stitching removed and the hem was cut in two at the crease.  This then became a rolled bandage.  The sheets were then cut into 30-inch squares.  The squares were folded in half diagonally to form a triangle.  The triangles were cut on the fold.  These triangular bandages were then folded and placed in zip lock bags to keep them clean.  All cloth scraps were taken and cut into 2 ½ in strips to be used as rolled bandages and were placed in zip lock bags to keep clean.  The strips were the length of the sheet. 

         Back Boards:          Backboards can be made inexpensively from sheets of ¾ inch plywood.  A 4 x 8 x 3/4 (or thicker) sheet of plywood is used. (NOTE: Waffer board, sheeting, and other types of sheet wood are not durable enough for this type of project.) Cut a foot and a half from the bottom of the sheet.  This leaves you with a board that is 4 ft by 6.5 ft.  Cut the board in half-length wise.  This now gives you two boards 2 ft by 6.5 ft.  These will become your backboards.  Round the Four Corners of each board. There needs to be six handholds on each side and two at the top and two at the bottom.  To create these handholds a two-inch hole saw was used to drill two holes for each handhold.  The wood between the holes was then removed to leave an oval opening.  See diagram below:


            Two holes               Wood from between
                                               the holes is removed to
                                           create the handholds
           Three 2 x 2 boards are attached to the bottom of each back board to provide a space so the transport teams hands can reach into and through the hand holds.  Each board had all edges rounded over with a router and were then sanded and painted or varnished to help prevent slivers.  The outer edge of each handhold was covered in foam pipe insulation to provide a cushion for the transport teams hands.  Restraint belts can be added to each board to help restrain the victim during transport.  If cost is a factor duck tape can be used as a restraint instead of the belts.  Without the belts, each board cost $16.  With the belts the cost went up to $33.  Some of the home improvement stores in town will donate the items for free if they know why you want them.

Hand holds                                          

           Splints:          Splints can be made from almost any item.  The easiest and cheapest way is to use clean cardboard.  Cardboard can be obtained from almost any retailer.  Most retailers throw cardboard away, though some do recycle it.  Just ask the store manager for what ever they have available.
           The length the cardboard should be cut to will very with the use.  Longer pieces will be used for legs, shorter pieces for arms.  Pieces that are too long can be cut to the right length.  So don’t make the splint too short, that will limit its use.  The width should be about 3 1/4 inches.  If you wish to be a little more fancy, cut the cardboard 8 inches in width.  Measuring in from the two outside edges, make a cut the length of the cardboard 2.5 inches in.  Only cut the cardboard half way through going down the length of the splint.  This will allow the cardboard to be bent and form a splint with sides to help keep the broken limb from moving.  Not all splints should be made this way.  But it is a good idea to have a variety of sizes for different victims.