MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on June 29 that a total of 15 community members became graduates of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.
The students recently completed the 21-hour CERT training course hosted by the Malibu CERT Team in conjunction with the City’s Public Safety Department.
CERT is an acclaimed, nationwide program that empowers community members to help themselves and their neighbors during disasters. Volunteers are trained in basic first aid, fire suppression, and search and rescue so that they can provide emergency assistance to their neighbors.
According to the city of Malibu website, following a major disaster, professional first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to fully meet the demand for services. Factors such as communications failures, road blockages, and the number of victims, may prevent people from accessing the emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice when 911 is called.
Individuals will need to rely on each other to meet immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from main roads for a period of time.
The CERT program was developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles City Fire Department to provide basic training in safety and lifesaving skills to the general public. It has since been adopted and enhanced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Fire Academy. The course is now recognized nationwide, and over 50,000 citizens have been trained to date.
CERT classes contain the following modules:
-Disaster Preparedness
-Team Organization
-Medical Class #1
-Medical Class #2
-Disaster Psychology
-Fire Safety and Utility Controls
-Light Search and Rescue Operations
-Terrorism and CERT
-Course Review and Disaster Simulation Drill
To learn more visit: www.MalibuCity.org/CERT.
By Danny Jones
