The City's Office of Emergency Services is offering two separate free training opportunities coming up soon. Learn how to be a Block Preparedness Coordinator and/or a member of our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)! Read on to learn more.
Block Preparedness Coordinator (BPC) Certification Course
This Saturday, February 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Downtown Library in Palo Alto, the Office of Emergency Services is hosting a free certification course for their Block Preparedness Coordinator (BPC) Program. The course is in an introduction to the program and includes neighborhood watch training. The Block Preparedness Program is a component of the Palo Alto Emergency Services Volunteer (ESV) Program sponsored by the Office of Emergency Services.
The BPC Program is relevant not only in a disaster but also for everyday activities, building social networks in your neighborhood, deterring crime, and preparing for emergencies. When neighbors know each other, they look out for each other and work better together. BPCs are the driving force to make this happen, making our neighborhoods safer places to live.
To learn more, and to register for free, click this link.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is a national program designed to prepare Palo Alto residents to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors in the event of a disaster. The training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. The CERT program is free to all citizens of Palo Alto & Stanford University.
Over the course of three weeks, CERT members receive training in earthquake awareness, disaster fire suppression techniques, disaster medical operations, first aid/CPR, and light search-and-rescue, as well as team organization and management. CERT training culminates with a disaster simulation and comprehensive course review.
All classes are taught by trained instructors with an emphasis on hands-on practice. Following a disaster, CERT teams can extinguish small fires, turn off gas inlets to damaged homes, perform light search and rescue, and render basic first aid. The CERT program provides an effective response capability.
CERT Basic Training will begin Monday, March 6, 2023 and will meet in person on March 6, 7, 13, 15, 20, 23 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Field Day is Saturday, March 25, from noon - 4 p.m.
To learn more, and to register for free, click this link.
