Have you heard about your local community emergency response team (CERT)? The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area. It also trains in basic disaster response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT is an important component of disaster preparedness since first responders (fire, police, and EMS) are often overwhelmed in a disaster.
The program also serves many functions even when a disastrous event has not occurred. Team members volunteer for public events, assist city leaders to educate citizens in emergency preparedness, and build camaraderie by meeting or training together throughout the year.
The CERT training course is free and upon completion you will receive a backpack with emergency preparedness gear. Sign up for training at your local municipality to learn how CERT can pay off for your family, your community, and even at work.
Learn more about CERT from these links: