CASSOPOLIS —Cass County Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. announces the upcoming Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.
Class begins Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Cass County Emergency Operations Center, 130 North Broadway, Cassopolis.
The seven-week training will be held Wednesday evenings from 6 until 9 p.m. and will culminate on Oct. 26 with a simulated disaster exercise and graduation.
CERT is a training program that prepares participants to help themselves, their family and their neighbors during a disaster.
During an incident, emergency service personnel may not be able to reach everyone immediately.
By getting trained in CERT, trainees will have the skills to help emergency responders save lives and protect property.
CERT participants learn how to:
• Identify and anticipate hazards
• Reduce fire hazards in the home and workplace
• Extinguish small fires
• Assist emergency responders
• Conduct light search and rescue
• Set up medical treatment areas
• Apply basic medical techniques
• Help reduce survivor stress
In 95 percent of all emergencies, the victim or bystander provides the first immediate assistance on the scene.
CERT training takes about 20 hours to complete and provides critical skills in emergency preparedness and response.
Classes and equipment are provided free to those willing to help their community, but pre-registration is required.
Adults 18 and over who live or work in Cass County are encouraged to attend. Go to www.citizencorps.gov/cert to learn more about the CERT program.
Applications are available at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office or online at www.ccso.info under the Community tab.
For questions or additional CERT registration information, contact Patti Kolden at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office by dialing (269) 445-8644 ext. 1217 today and join the ranks of more than 200 Cass County CERT volunteers who have completed the course to date.