Rowan County Community Emergency Response Teams to form

Published 12:00 am Monday, December 10, 2012

There will be a C.E.R.T., or Community Emergency Response Team, organizational meeting next Monday, Dec. 17, from 6-7 p.m. It will be held in the Seth Murdock Auditorium of the Rowan County Agricultural Extension building at 2727 Old Concord Road. To participate contact C.E.R.T. Coordinator David Morris at 704-638-5360.
At any time, a disaster could impact our community, a family member, or a close friend, even you. When it does, pain, suffering, even life and death depend on how well we are prepared and the resources we have ready.
Rowan County’s Community Emergency Response Teams (C.E.R.T.) are designed to help our families, neighborhoods, schools, and businesses throughout Rowan County and all the municipalities prepare for effective disaster/emergency response through training and preplanning.
This training for volunteer citizen members covers basic skills that are important to know when emergency services are not immediately available. You can make a difference by using the training to save lives and protect property.
Emergency responders, emergency management personnel, and emergency trained volunteers provide training. Program material covers earthquakes, fires, floods, hazardous incidents and other general life-threatening situations. This Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certified course does not require previous emergency knowledge for participation.
Regular training for citizens wishing to become involved in C.E.R.T. are held throughout the year. Community Emergency Response Team Training instructs individuals to prepare to respond to anticipated and potential hazards following a disaster. Participants will learn to:
Recognize the potential hazards associated with a particular type of emergency and take the appropriate action;
Identify, organize and utilize available resources and people;
Treat for life-threatening conditions through Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.).
Participants will attend a total of nine modules. Classes include lecture, videos, slides and interactive participation and skills assessment.
Personal Protective equipment, first aid items, rescue tool, flashlights and Family Service radios will be issued to the C.E.R.T student at the end of the class.
Rowan County’s Community Emergency Response Teams provide the opportunity and training for citizens to help to protect their community and neighborhood.