CERT To Offer Training Later This Month

Budgets are tightening across the country, affecting all communities. And as we’ve seen this winter, Mother Nature can never be predicted. With town services stretched thinly, it’s important for volunteers to help ensure that if and when disaster does strike, residents’ families and their neighbors are prepared.  

And that’s why volunteer organizations like CERT exist.

CERT — which stands for Community Emergency Response Team — was developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985. Since then, communities around the country have started their own organizations.

Westport CERT, which is composed of 25 Westport and Weston residents, started in 2003, according to Westonite Susan Rosen, who’s part of the organization.

Later this month, from March 18 through March 20, CERT is hosting a training weekend, to be held in the Westport Police Department’s training room. Topics covered include first aid, CPR, fire control, rescue, sheltering, disaster psychology and more.

“The training is free and residents from any community may attend,” Rosen told Patch. “The only requirement is that you be at least 18 years of age.”

A full detail of that weekend’s programming is available on its website.

“The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards for hazards that may impact their areas and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations,” Rosen said. “Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.”

CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community, she said.

Rosen said CERT is activated through fire and police departments when there’s an additional need for help in an emergency situation or following a bad storm.

“Many different scenarios arise from time to time when we are called to help,” Rosen said, adding CERT also helps coordinate larger events.

“CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number,” she said. “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.”

For more information, call 203.266.0780.