West Pierce To Offer Free CERT Classes For Lakewood, University Place

West Pierce Fire & Rescue is taking registrations for Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) classes forthose who live or work within the West Pierce area which includes Lakewood and University Place.

This FREE, 20-hour CERT course aims to teach citizens how to prepare for, and respond to, disasters or extreme emergencies.

The classes will follow a model developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is offeredin many communities across the United States. The idea behind this model is to teach people in neighborhoods howto help each other in the first few hours or days following a disaster, before emergency responders are able to get tothem to render professional help. In the CERT classes, students will gain hands-on skills such as how to put out smallfires, render first aid in a disaster situation, be safe around utilities, and perform light search and rescue.

The six classes will be taught by firefighters who are subject matter experts. The classes begin on April 29th and areheld on Monday and Wednesday evenings for three weeks from 6:30 - 9 p.m., and culminate in a practical exercise tobe held on Saturday, May 18th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Classes will be held at the West Pierce Fire & Rescue Stationswith the majority of this session classes being held in University Place. The course is limited to 25 students and thereare no prerequisites, other than a desire to learn and help others. The classes are FREE!

For more information, the class schedule or to register, contact Rachel Adler at (253) 983-4580 or emailcert@westpiercefire.org .