The Southern Illinois District will provide Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Basic Chainsaw training on Saturday, June 25, 2022. 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.
The morning session will be held at the St. Mark's Lutheran School, 504 N. James St., Steeleville, IL. Please enter at the rear of the school.
The afternoon session will be approximately three miles south of Steeleville. Maps will be furnished at the morning session. Those attending the afternoon session should bring their own brown-bag lunch and snacks. Bottled water will be furnished at the site.
You must have previously completed the LERT basic 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. All LERT qualified volunteers are invited to attend.
The afternoon session is hands-on with a saw. The morning session must be attended to participate.
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 afternoon 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:
- Morning and Afternoon (LERT qualified Chainsaw Operator) - $25.
- Pay at the time of training, checks should be made to St. Mark's Lutheran Church.
Please contact Bryce Cramer, jbcramer@mchsi.com or 618-201-1806 for additional information or questions.
