East Hartford Offers a Free Community Emergency Response Team Training
The Town of East Hartford is pleased to announce that it is currently accepting applications for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Course.
The training is free, however pre-registration is required as the class size is limited to 25 participants. Classes will be held every Wednesday evening starting on September 14, 2022 from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM and will continue for 10 consecutive weeks, at the East Hartford Public Safety Complex, 31 School Street, East Hartford. Enrolled students will receive equipment and the opportunity to apply to join East Hartford CERT team upon course completion.
“This is a great opportunity for residents to learn life-saving skills and basic disaster preparedness for the hazards that might impact the area,” said Mayor Mike Walsh.
CERT is a program that educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that might impact their area and trains residents on basic disaster response skills. When a disaster such as a major hurricane strikes, emergency responders are generally focused on the most critical emergencies. Therefore, it’s important for residents to have the ability to help themselves, their families and community around them leading up to and following a disaster.
Fortunately, these skills can be easily learned. Through classroom and hands-on experience participants in the CERT training will learn about disaster preparedness and basic response related to fire safety, disaster medical operations and light search and rescue. This ten-week course will also cover disaster psychology, terrorism and the mission of the CERT organization. The course will culminate in a CERT drill, putting what participants have learned into practice.
There is no previous experience needed to participate in the training. Classes will be a combination of hands-on experience as well as lecture style, and they are designed to offer students decision-making and practical skills needed to safely assist families, neighbors and coworkers in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Those who wish to participate should apply online at this link. Printed applications can also be picked up at Fire Department Headquarters located at the Public Safety Complex, 31 School Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 or by contacting CERT Coordinator Paul Belanger at (860) 881-6964 or via e-mail pbelanger@easthartfordct.gov.