Austin Gergens (’17) showcases his disaster buckets. Photo by Jamie Pham.by Yasir Khaleq, Staff Writer & Photographer
To help Fountain Valley High School in the face of any kind of disaster or lock down situation, Austin Gergens (’17), along with a team of fellow Eagle Scouts and dedicated Barons, has brought a unique situation to fruition.
Gergens and his team have constructed 150 disaster buckets, filled with useful items and distributed them throughout the school. The buckets can be found in any classroom, in the case that something unfortunate happens, so every Baron is prepared.
“The first part of my project was to train our school’s ASB as well as other school leaders in first aid and CPR. And also to construct disaster buckets, in the event that a natural disaster occurs, and we’re stuck in a classroom for an extended period of time, the students have the supply to keep themselves safe,” said Gergens.
This project was done to fulfill his Eagle Scout requirement to do something to help either his school, church or community. By constructing this bucket, Gergens has helped both his school and community.
The process was long and arduous, beginning May 2015 and wrapping up about a month ago, on August 27. It involved months of intensive planning and budgeting to assemble all the items in the bucket, including gauze, band-aids, Neosporin and hand sanitizer. There’s no food in the buckets however, because food is perishable. The bucket even doubles as toilet, if desperate times come to desperate measures.
“I talked to Mr. Trocchio, and helped me design the list of what we needed as a school. We also had input from the school nurse. The five gallon bucket was perfect because it could contain all the parts we needed. One of the unique aspects of the bucket is that it can also be used as a toilet. In an extended period of time with a bunch of students using the bathroom, someone’s bound to have to go,” said Gergens.
This entire project reflects Gergens as a person and a scout, one who is cautious and generally very reliable.
“I’m all about being prepared. That’s a Scout motto. I always have my first aid kit with me, and the school appropriate Ten Essentials from the Scout handbook. If anyone needs anything, they usually come to me for like a bandaid or what-not. My mentality of preparedness drove the idea for the buckets,” said Gergens.
However, being a scout isn’t about the scout himself. It’s about how the scout is able to effectively live within society and constantly be a leader and innovator.
“Eagle scouts to me is kinda the entire culmination of my entire scouting career, and all the lessons I’ve learned. The whole project kinda encompassed that. Dealing with different people, recruiting a team to help me build this and help research all the items in the kit and work as a team to really complete the project,” said Gergens.
In the future, Gergens plans on going to Westpoint military academy, because he believes his scout background has prepared him well for that. He may one day go into a disaster or first-aid related field. One thing for sure, he’s going to prepared, regardless of the circumstance.
OUTSTANDING!!!!!!! WHAT A GREAT PROJECT!!!! EAGLE’S SOAR!!!!!