Health & Fitness
Recruitment Underway for Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Course
West Chicago, Illinois: August 30, 2013 – September is National Preparedness Month and West Chicago has been no stranger to local disasters such as April’s flooding and last July’s destructive storm that caused severe damage and power outages. Ways to prepare for a disaster include making a disaster plan, building a disaster supply kit, and taking advantage of free preparedness training. Beginning in September, the West Chicago Citizen Corps is offering another Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course.
The West Chicago Citizen Corps educates the public on important actions to take in the event of a natural or manmade disaster through a seven-week training course. The Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course will meet Tuesday evenings, September 10 through October 22, 2013 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. There is no fee for the course. Participants must be at least 18 years old or older, and either live or work in the City of West Chicago or the West Chicago Fire Protection District.
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CERT training is designed to provide basic training in disaster preparedness, which increases the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance arrives. Courses include: Weather Safety, Fire and Life Safety, Medical, Light Search and Rescue, CERT Organization, Psychology, and Terrorism.
Fire Chief Robert Hodge said, “Everyone that attends the course learns valuable lessons that may change their life. Learning how to bandage an injury, use a fire extinguisher, or lift a heavy object that has trapped someone, may be very useful when an emergency hits your neighborhood.”
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According to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, “No matter how much the federal government, the state, or local officials do to prepare, we can’t do it alone – individuals and families must do their part to be ready in case of an emergency. The public is the most important member of the nation’s emergency management team”
The course will be conducted at the Fire Protection District Headquarters, located at 200 Fremont Street. To enroll, persons should call Sergeant Chris Woodill at (630) 293-2222 or email at CWoodill@westchicago.org.
