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ANOTHER CERT CLASS GRADUATES!

23 July 2009

CERT Class Graduates - June 2009

On June 3, 20, and 27, 2009 the Apple Valley Fire Protection District and Town of Apple Valley held another CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) class for Apple Valley Residents. CERT is a nationwide program designed to teach residents how to take care of their families, friends, and neighbors during a disaster.

Following major disaster – natural or manmade – emergency resources will be quickly depleted. CERT graduates will know how to best care for themselves and their loved ones, and will extend that knowledge into their neighborhoods and the community.

CERT participants attending the 20-hour class learned about eight major topics:

1. Disaster Preparedness: How to prepare for disasters most prone to our area, how to minimize potential hazards and tips for assembling a survival kit.

2. First Aid: How to recognize and treat the life-threatening conditions of airway obstruction, bleeding, and shock.

3. Triage/Treatment areas: How to establish and conduct triage (sorting) applications.

4. Fire Safety: A lesson on types of fire and extinguishers, and hands-on training in the use of fire extinguishers.

5. Light Search and Rescue: Learn how to size up a situation for search and rescue; how to search systematically and safely; and hands-on practice using safe techniques for lifting, leveraging, and cribbing (a technique for removing a trapped person).

6. Terrorism Awareness: Learn about hazardous materials, potential terrorism, and how to be more alert and aware of surroundings.

7. Disaster Psychology: A lesson in understanding the natural psychological progression victims and rescuers experience during a disaster.

8. Team Organization: A teamwork approach is examined and applied so that response is as efficient as possible.

After the classroom instruction on the last day, the CERT members participated in a practical simulation of an earthquake scenario, performing search and rescue, triaging, and first aid on volunteer Fire Explorer “victims.” After evaluating the training one graduate said, “I now feel more secure with myself in the event of an emergency.”

To sign up for the next CERT class please call Emergency Services Officer Laura Whitehead at (760)247-7618, Extension 106; or e-mail her at Lwhitehead@applevalleyfd.com.