Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Basic Chainsaw training will be provided on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The chainsaw training serves to increase our dedicated LERT volunteer’s capabilities to help those who haven’t the means or skills to perform this dangerous work following a disaster. The District wants to equip LERT members with the ability to provide this service safely and efficiently. This training consists of two parts, a morning classroom session and an afternoon hands-on session that will be outdoors. Afternoon participants will be doing actual chainsaw activities.
The morning classroom session (Safety) will be held at Grace Lutheran Church 1787 Klerner Lane, New Albany, Indiana. The morning session will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Doors will open by 7:30. The morning session will be indoors from 8 am to noon. Please arrive early to check-in.
Lunch is not provided at this training. Bring your own or it is available for purchase for an additional $10.
The afternoon session (Operations) will be outdoors from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Please dress accordingly. Outdoor cutting will take place at Lakeview Springs 6865 Corydon Ridge Rd NE, Lanesville, IN 47136. More information on traveling to the outdoor session will be provided the day of the training.
You must have previously completed the basic LERT training class to participate in this class.
During the training, you will learn the following:
· Safe operation of a chainsaw
· Personal protective equipment (PPE)
· Injury prevention
· How to buck and limb fallen trees
· How to clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner
· Those at the age of 14 - 17 may attend the classroom portion and become a dragger but will not be able to become a puller or chainsaw operator until they have reached the age of 18.
The morning session is classroom lecture style. All LERT qualified volunteers are invited to attend.
The afternoon session is hands-on operations with a chainsaw. Those wishing to participate in the hands-on training must attend the morning classroom session. Those wishing to volunteer as draggers only, need not attend the afternoon session. Please indicate if your intent is to train as a chainsaw operator/puller (safety and operations portion of the class) or only as a dragger (morning safety portion of class).
To be authorized to use a chainsaw on LERT disaster responses as an LCMS LERT Chainsaw Operator, you must attend BOTH the classroom and "hands-on" sessions.
Afternoon hands-on participants should bring, if they have:
Chainsaw, bar oil, gas-oil or synthetic fuel mix
Chaps and other Personal Protective Equipment (helmet, eye protection, gloves, steel-toed boots)
Participants must wear steel-toed work boots. Tennis shoes or sandals/flip-flops are not allowed in the outdoor session.
Outdoor work clothes and boots appropriate for the weather at the time. Shorts not allowed.
Some chainsaws and PPE will be available for training if you do not have your own.
Those that are under the age of 18 will not be allowed to operate a chainsaw.
Training Costs:
· For morning session (SAFETY ONLY) only- $15.00
· Lunch is available for $10.00
· For both morning and afternoon sessions (SAFETY and OPERATIONS - LERT qualified Chainsaw Operator) - $25.00, includes training manual, certificate, new ID (for those attending both sessions). The fee includes the afternoon session for those participating.
· Pay at the time of training, checks should be made to Grace Lutheran Church. Total due is $35.00
The Rev. Trae Fistler, LERT Chainsaw Trainer and Mid-South DDRC, will provide the chainsaw training.
