BERLIN—Town
officials are wasting little time putting a newly acquired resource to good use
in a Berlin police officer, who earned certification to instruct both first
responders and the public on certain types of emergency medical care on July
17.

Pfc. Jessica
Collins is certified to instruct law enforcement officers on how to render care
in emergency situations, which she pointed out was important because police
officers are frequently the first responders in situations that also require
ambulance and fire responders. Her training and recertification by the Maryland
Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems and the Maryland Police
Training Commission, will allow her to teach at the academy as well as locally
when needed, she said.

The
additional course, which was certified through the American Heart Association, will
authorize Collins to train members of the public—individuals or organizations—
as well as the law enforcement community, she said. Her training for the public
would consist of a four- to six-hour session with instruction on
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automatic external defibrillator usage and first
aid, she said.

Human
Resources Director Jeffrey Fleetwood announced at the Aug. 12 town council
meeting that the town will host free training sessions for town employees on
Sept. 4 and 24.

Berlin
Police Chief Arnold Downing also said at the meeting that he was working with
Worcester County Sheriff’s Department officials to coordinate a stepped up
safety awareness effort for the start of school, which begins Aug. 26, and the
upcoming Bike Week in mid-September, when significantly more motorcycles will
be on area roadways.

The Berlin
Police Department and Bank of Ocean City will again launch their “Buckle Up for a
Buck” and “Penny For Luck” campaigns, to promote seat belt usage and
raise awareness on the dangers of not buckling up.

For the campaign,
the Bank of Ocean City will donate one dollar bills, which will be distributed
to student drivers of vehicles in which all their passengers are properly
buckled up when they arrive at school. 
Drivers who arrive to school unrestrained will receive educational
materials about the effectiveness of seat belts saving lives and reducing
injuries, and also received a penny for luck, according to the department.

Individuals
who would also like to receive CPR, AED, and first aid training can call the
police department directly at 410-641-1333.