The City of Des Peres Department of Public Safety has teamed up with the City of Creve Coeur Police Dept., City of Town and Country Police Dept., West County Fire Protection Dist., and Creve Coeur Fire Protection Dist. to provide CERT training to area residents.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was established after September 11, 2001 and is designed to encourage citizens and communities to be diligent in their awareness of neighborhood activity and to become more involved in emergency preparedness.
Following a major disaster, first responders, such as police, fire fighters, paramedics and even public utility providers may not be able to meet the demands for public service. Individual neighbors may have to rely on each other for immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.
CERT Training
CERT training is a program designed to give ordinary citizens the knowledge and basic equipment needed to care for themselves, their families and their community following a disaster or terrorist act.
The program has eight topics that cover:
- Basic disaster preparedness
- Basic first aid and medical training
- Fire suppression
- Search and rescue
- Weapons of mass destruction
- Terrorism awareness
- Instruction on team organization and disaster psychology
The training concludes with a live disaster simulation where students are given the opportunity to put their skill to work.
Registration
The next basic CERT class will be held in September 2011.
Classes held on each Tuesday - 6:30p - 10:30p in September:
September 6, 13, 20, 27, October 4 and October 15 (Saturday practical exercise).
Registration for the CERT program can be completed online or by calling the Des Peres Department of Public Safety Community Services Officer at (314) 835-6286. Participation is limited to the first 40 registrants.
