Boone County News Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Matthew Brown
CERT Program Manager
Phone: (573) 554-7900
Email: MBrown@boonecountymo.org
Boone County Office of Emergency Management Offers Community Emergency Response Team Training
February 7, 2023 –The Boone County Office of Emergency Management will conduct a free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training in-person through the month of March. This continues the reengagement of the community with the CERT Program following the COVID-19 Pandemic.
To take this CERT Basic Training course, participants must:
- Be a resident or employed in Boone County (Non-county residents wishing to participate will be admitted on a case-by-case basis. If possible, they will be referred to a local program where they reside.)
- Be at least 18 years old.
The CERT Program was developed by the City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985 when they realized that the impact of disasters could be lessened if citizens were more prepared through disaster survival training. The training they created was adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1994 and expanded into a nationwide program under Citizen Corps. There are now thousands of CERTs in communities across the country.
In the event of a major emergency or disaster within Boone County, the reality may be that public safety resources will be overwhelmed. CERT education is intended to lessen the impact of disasters on participating individuals, and enable them to aid family members, neighbors, and co-workers immediately following an emergency until first responders arrive.
The CERT Basic Training provides individuals who complete this course with the basic skills required to respond to their community’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster, when emergency services are not immediately available. It also trains them to support first responders once they arrive on scene. By working together, CERT volunteers can help save lives and protect property using the basic techniques in this course. The target audience for this course is individuals who desire the skills and knowledge required to respond to a disaster.
This course is delivered over four weekly sessions and one all-day session. During the training, participants will receive a combination of lecture and hands-on skills training. Participants will take a written exam and receive a certificate indicating successful completion of the course. The 2023 CERT Basic Training course will follow the schedule below:
2023 CERT Basic Training Schedule |
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Date |
Time |
Topic |
March 8 |
6:00pm-9:00pm |
Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness |
March 15 |
6:00pm-9:00pm |
Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations Part 1 |
March 22 |
6:00pm-9:00pm |
Unit 5: Disaster Psychology |
March 29 |
6:00pm-9:00pm |
Unit 6: Fire Safety & Utility Controls |
April 1 |
8:00am-5:00pm |
Unit 7: Light Search & Rescue |
Participants MUST pre-register to attend and cannot miss more than 10% (~2 hours) of the total course to be eligible for completion. The CERT Basic Training course has a 20-participant maximum and an 8-participant minimum. Should the course be cancelled due to low participation, you will be contacted by the Boone County CERT Program Manager no less than 24 hours prior to the beginning of the course.
To register, please visit our website at https://www.showmeboone.com/oem/training/cert
Registration deadline is Friday, March 3, 2023.
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