What if your neighborhood was affected by a disaster? Would yo know what to do to help out yourself, your family or your neighbors? Butler County CERT members know what to do. If you are 18 years and older, you, too, can become CERT trained.
CERT, which stands for Community Emergency Response Team, is a national program that provides grant funding to local emergency managers to equip and train citizens to prepare and respond to disasters and emergencies in their neighborhood.
CERT is about readiness; people helping people, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference.
CERT members are trained to supplement not supplant our emergency responders in the event that a major disaster occurs. They are trained to assist their families and neighbors in the minutes or hours that it may take for emergency responders to arrive on scene.
Participants receive 20 hours of free training in light search and rescue, hazardous materials, terrorism, critical incident stress management, basic first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, incident command, disaster preparedness and triage. The “final exam” portion of training involves participation in a mock disaster with real “victims.” Class members get the chance to utilize the skills they have been taught over the course of the class.
The next CERT class will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on April 6, 8, 13, and 15, at the Augusta Department of Safety, 2100 N. Ohio. The first session will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8. The class will conclude from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 17.
Augusta, Kan. —
