FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Register Now For Spring CERT Classes
Would you know what to do if you were the first to arrive at the scene of an accident, a flash flood or other emergency or disaster? Would you like to learn?
The Atlantic County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is accepting volunteer members who are interested in receiving education and training in disaster preparedness and response to help supplement and support emergency personnel. CERT members learn basic safety skills to help keep themselves, their families and their neighborhoods safer in the event of an emergency. CERT members may provide care, stabilization and information following an event when first responders are not immediately available as well as assistance at emergency operation centers and evacuation shelters.
The CERT program is a national initiative that was established after the September 11, 2001 attacks as part of the Citizens Corps volunteer program. The CERT concept developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles Fire Department which recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic disaster. With basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills, their ability to survive until emergency personnel could arrive would be greatly increased.
The Atlantic County CERT was formed in 2004 and has trained approximately 400 individuals, age 18 years and older.
The next series of (six) classes will begin on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Classes will be held Saturday, 8 AM to 12 noon, through May 3, 2014, (excluding April 19) at the Atlantic County Anthony “Tony” Canale Training Center, 5033 English Creek Avenue, Egg Harbor Township. The training is free and participants are required to attend all classes.
To register, email your name and phone number to:
[email protected] or call Don Weger, Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management, at (609) 407-6764.
