South Windsor Emergency Management Accepting Applications For CERT

From South Windsor Office of Emergency Management:The South Windsor Office of Emergency Management is currently accepting applications for the next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Course to begin February 6, 2017.

The CERT Basic Training Course is offered free of charge to citizens who reside, work, or otherwise have an interest in South Windsor area. The CERT Basic Training teaches citizens how to be personally prepared for emergencies and disasters, while providing them with the skills they need to help their neighbors and the community in times of need such as often seen with natural disasters. Upon completion of the basic training course, CERT members fill many roles during incidents, whether working in a shelter, assisting in the Emergency Operations Center, communications, community outreach, or preforming other needed tasks while being deployed into the field. Essentially, CERT members take on a broad range of responsibilities that free up South Windsor’s public safety personnel.

When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

The CERT course is taught in cooperation with personnel from the Office of Emergency Management, South Windsor agencies, as well as current CERT Members and guest speakers. CERT training includes topics such as disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue.

Classes will be held every Thursday evening for ten consecutive weeks starting on Tuesday, February 6, 2017 from 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM, in the South Windsor Town Annex Multi-Purpose Room. All students will also receive free equipment and training materials. Enrollment is limited to twenty-five participants on a first come first serve basis. Applications for the training can be found on-line at www. http://www.southwindsor.org/emergency-management/pages/community-emergency-response-team Upon filling out the application, please print out and either drop the application off at the South Windsor Town Hall, or mail it to South Windsor Emergency Management, 1530 Sullivan Ave., South Windsor, CT 06074.

For questions about the program, please contacting Jeff Hamm @ Jeffjeffh.swcert@gmail.com or John Ryan at (860) 569-6685, or via e-mail johnryan@easthartfordct.gov.

Lt. Richard Bond

Special Services Commander

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