The West County Emergency Response Team graduated 27 beginning class members on May 11 at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. Each graduate successfully completed 24 hours of classes held over two weeks. Classes included were basic disaster response skills in fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and medical operations with a mock drill testing all skills learned.
The West CERT is comprised of responsibly trained community volunteers who have come together to form a skilled group of disaster service workers who either live and/or work in Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Westminster and surrounding areas.
While federal, state and city resources can ultimately provide professional help in the event of a major disaster, there could be a substantial delay getting those resources to those who need them. The primary purpose for CERT training is to give people the decision-making, organizational and practical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members and neighbors while waiting of the professional first responders. Although volunteers may respond to others in need without the training, the goal of the CERT program is to help them do it effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.
With this training, CERT graduates will now be in a position to better assist themselves and their families, plus others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event such as an earthquake when professional first responders are not immediately available.
The next CERT beginning class will be held for all in September or October. For additional information, please email at westcountycert@yahoo.com.