Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training this Fall

Registration is under way for Walnut Creek’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.  Classes will be Monday evenings from Sept. 10 – Oct. 15 at Tony LaRussa’s  Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive. There is a final graduation drill during the daytime on Saturday, Oct. 27.
The purpose of CERT is to teach people how to safely respond to the needs of the community in the event of a major disaster. CERT graduates are sworn in as volunteer Disaster Service Workers for the City of Walnut Creek upon completion of their training.
If disaster strikes, CERT team members check on their own families and home first, and then assemble at a pre-designated site to work together to respond to the needs of the neighborhood and gather information for the City’s Emergency Operations Center.
CERT classes are a combination of lecture and hands-on training, and include light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and CERT team organization. Among other skills, participants learn how to use hand-held radios, shut off gas and operate a fire extinguisher.
There is a $25 program fee. To register, email cert@walnut-creek.org or call the CERT registration line, 256-3556. Space is limited, and classes fill up quickly.
More information may be found at www.walnut-creek.org/CERT.