Emergency Preparedness at River Bend
I hope everyone is having a great week! This week, I wanted to share a little bit about the efforts we make here at River Bend to be prepared in case of an emergency.
At the start of every season, we bring in an instructor to run CPR, First Aid, and AED certification training for our staff. We prioritize security in this training, but also include any employees who need certification or re-certification. For the last two years, our training has been provided by West Virginia Public Service Training – the same organization that works with local Fire/EMS and Police.
As some of you may know, I am also a Volunteer Firefighter certified in WV, and many of our staff are trained to handle emergencies. We also have Emergency Action Plans written specifically for River Bend to guide staff in different scenarios.
Equipment on site includes:
Two AEDs (Guard House & Pool), serviced monthly
Multiple First Aid kits with tourniquets, CPR masks, and more
Pool emergency gear required by the state, including a backboard and head immobilizer
American Red Cross certified lifeguards trained in pool rescue, CPR, First Aid, and AED use
In the event of an emergency, our security team follows strict protocols. A guard will be staged to escort emergency responders directly to your lot. That’s why we always ask: After you call 911, please call security. This ensures responders reach you as quickly as possible.
We take preparation seriously, but it’s important to remember—we are not paramedics. The first and most important step is always to call 911 immediately.
If you have suggestions or ideas on how we can improve, I’d love to hear them. Many of our members are first responders with years of experience, and your input is always valuable.