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| LIFE IN SOLERA | JUNE 2023 | 9 The Solera CERT Cadre has been training and operating since 2019. CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteers trained by the County of Riverside Emergency Management Department and other government entities, gather monthly at the Clubhouse to practice their skills, and refresh established FEMA based protocols. On the evening of Wed., May 10, George Vawter was driving into Solera via the Golf Club Drive gated entry. George noticed a car was stopped at the curb line of Golf Club Drive, with an elderly man slumped over the steering wheel. Believing the elderly driver was impaired, George parked his car and cautiously walked up to the elderly driver. In addition, he called the Solera Security Team (Southwest Security) and notified them of the situation at the Golf Club Drive gate. After several vigorous attempts to gain the attention of the elderly, George opened the driver's door and checked the well-being of the apparently incapacitated elderly driver. It was clear that the driver was in some sort of health distress. As a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteer at Solera, George immediately fell back on his training and activated the EMS (Emergency Medical System) by dialing 911. George was connected to Beaumont Police Dispatcher Priscilla. Priscilla asked George for his exact location. As he explained where he was located, he sensed that Priscilla was not sure where he was on Golf Club Drive. He quickly recalled a Solera CERT training session where he received training on a telephone application called "What3Words." This application is a geocoded system designed to identify an exact location (three-meter spot) without the need of providing a complex set of longitude and latitude coordinates. Instead, three unique words are designated for the exact position a person may be standing in. George opened the phone application and provided the three words to Dispatcher Priscilla who quickly identified where George and the health distressed elderly driver were stopped. Dispatcher Priscilla asked George to check for vital signs of life for the driver. When it was conveyed that the driver was not breathing and had no pulse, the dispatcher advised George to remove the driver from the car and lay him on the level ground. The driver was heavy- set, so George solicited the aid of a passer-by, Mario Flores (another Solera resident), along with Southwest Security Officer Eugene. With team effort, they quickly pulled the driver from the car and laid him on the ground. Once the driver was on the ground, Dispatcher Priscilla told George to commence CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) on the driver. George told me that he was thankful to have received CPR training at the Solera Clubhouse last month. The training was arranged and facilitated by Recreation Director Crystal Trujillo. Confident in his abilities, George began to perform CPR on the driver. After several minutes, first responders arrived and took over lifesaving measures. As the driver was being placed in an ambulance, George noticed the driver was sitting up and appeared to be having a conversation with the attending paramedics. Clearly, several elements of training and opportunities were employed to save a life. I applaud everyone who stepped out of their comfort zone for the greater good of our community! As a reminder, Solera residents and Keystone Pacific Management staff are always welcome to attend and participate in the monthly training sessions. Information about the Solera CERT Cadre can be found at https://www.solera-cert.info Solera CERT Cadre in Action: Spotlight on George Vawter, resident hero Not all heroes wear capes… sometimes they wear reflective vests

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