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CERT Training
by Skeeter Morris

As your RRRA Safety Coordinator, I encourage everyone to become involved in the safety of your community by learning about how you can help yourselves and others in the event of an emergency.  C.E.R.T. stands for “Community Emergency Response Team.”  It is a free program consisting of 20 hours of training with an emphasis on hands-on practice.  The course is taught by the Los Angeles County Fire Department at locations in our area.  You can log on to “www.fire.lacounty.gov” or call (888)CERT-939 for locations and schedules that might work for you.  Currently, there is a course planned for September 27^th, October 4^th & 11^th, 2008 in Lomita.

I attended class last year at Lomita City Hall.  The C.E.R.T. training is designed to prepare you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a disaster.  In our area, there are two earthquake faults beneath us.  History says that someday, these faults will shake with disastrous results.  We also live between two prime terrorist targets; the L.A. International Airport and the Long Beach/Los Angeles Harbor.  We would be wise to prepare for the threat of terrorism or natural disaster, along with the resulting crime, public health issues and issues of all kinds.

Emergency Services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately.  You can make a difference in the crucial first hours and days by using C.E.R.T. training.  With the combination of training and practice, and by working as a team, you will be able to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people after a disaster, while also protecting yourself and your family from becoming victims or being further traumatized.

It will take time for Emergency Response agencies to set up and prepare for an organized response to a catastrophic disaster, and the damaged roads and disrupted communications systems may restrict their access into critically affected areas.  For an initial period immediately following a disaster, often as much as seven to ten days, individuals, households, and neighborhoods may need to rely on their own resources for food, water, first aid and shelter.

Individual preparedness is essential in coping with the aftermath of a disaster.  Now is the time to prepare for our projected needs.  We can all help each other by becoming trained C.E.R.T. volunteers.