CERT LSAR Table Top Exercise Game Board Concept

Looking West (photo by V.A. McMillan)

 Title: CERT LSAR Table Top Exercise Game Board

 

As mentioned in a recent blog post (https://thegoodplanblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/cert-basics-course-still-time-to.html) I will be instructing the CERT Basics Light Search and Rescue (LSAR) unit for CERT Canada. For other CERT instructors and CERT teams who may be working on setting up or refreshing their LSAR training, I wanted to take this time to share the table top exercise (TTX) game board I have designed. This TTX game board is sized 36” wide x 24” high, and yes, it is laminated. Once seen, I am sure most instructors and team leaders would be able to create a version for themselves that would benefit their students or team. I would expect any renditions would employ a local map in the centre that would be known and of value to the location of the CERT team.

CERT TTX Game Board with Map 1 (Click on image to enlarge)

CERT TTX Game Board with Map 2

This TTX game board can likely be used with almost any TTX scenario used for CERT Basics LSAR or CERT team scenario training. The nine-step SIZE-UP frames the map, so that the team can be talked through the scenario and appropriate comments, decisions, options, resources, etc. can be recorded on the game board. Using fine tipped whiteboard markers the information can be recorded directly to the game board and at the end of the training session a damp cloth can erase the marking and be ready for the next training event.

One benefit, I see of this style of TTX game board is, the CERT student and CERT team members get exposure and repetitive use of the CERT SIZE-UP process. The more this is done, the stronger the understanding of why it is used, and by extension the easier it will be remembered when CERT deploys in response to an actual disaster event.

This is just a quick post to share this training aide and maybe generate some discussion.

Innovation makes training interesting!

VAM

Update: See a generic version of the game board here: https://mtnmanblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/table-top-exercise-ttx-game-board-for.html