Learn and practice C.E.R.T. disaster preparedness skills, free

Learn and practice C.E.R.T. disaster preparedness skills, free

Join other residents in learning practical, hands-on disaster preparedness skills through the O’Fallon Police Department’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training – it’s free!  Find out how to involve everyone in your household in responding safely to a range of natural disaster or emergency situations. The free, 20-hour course, which includes training materials, will be taught on September 27-29, and cover these topics and more:

 •        Disaster preparedness and kits

•        Basic medical assessment and treatment for injuries, burns, etc.

•        Working as a team to safely to conduct triage, light search and rescue, and extinguish small fires

•        Communicating effectively with public safety organizations during a disaster

The schedule for the CERT session is 6-10 p.m. Friday (September 27), 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (September 28), and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (September 29). Graduates are invited to learn more and keep skills fresh with free monthly training and exercises. The training, which is available to groups as well as individuals, will be held in the Public Works Building at 1089 Public Service Drive, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366.

“Our CERT course, which is only taught twice a year, offers a chance to learn a variety of skills in a relatively short period of time, and to talk to disaster preparedness experts, as well,” said O’Fallon Police Officer Andy Stowers.

To register for the free training, visit the City’s website at www.ofallon.mo.us and select “Police” on the homepage, or go directly to www.ofallon.mo.us/PD/CERT. For questions, contact Officer Stowers at 636-379-3816, or astowers@ofallon.mo.us.