County Holding Emergency Response Training for Residents

The Burlington County Sheriff’s  Department will hold a new CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) basic training class beginning Oct. 11. The class is eight sessions long and will be from 6:30-9 p.m., ending on Nov. 16.
 
All classes will be held at the Emergency Services Training Center (ESTC) at 53 Academy Drive in Westampton.

The schedule is as follows:

• Session 1 (Oct. 11) — CERT overview & disaster preparedness
• Session 2 (Oct. 18) — Fire safety
• Session 3 (Oct. 20) — Light search and rescue
• Session 4 (Oct. 25) — Medical operations (part 1)
• Session 5 (Nov. 01) — Medical operations (part 2)
• Session 6 (Nov. 09) — Terrorism
• Session 7 (Nov. 15) — Disaster psychology
• Session 8 (Nov. 16) — Disaster simulation and graduation

Sessions 3 and 8 will involve minor physical requirements. Sessions 4 and 5 will involve medical simulation and bandaging. Part of session 8 (fire extinguisher training) will be conducted outside. Students are advised to dress accordingly for all the training sessions.
            
Students must attend all classes to receive a graduation certificate. If the student is unable to attend a class, make-up classes will be scheduled to meet graduation requirements. Students will be issued books on the first day of class that they may keep. Upon graduation the student will receive a certificate and a CERT response bag.

This course is the first step in service to the community. This course will also help those individuals who want to become a CART (County Animal Response Team) member.

The Sheriff’s Department will be offering additional courses to help build the residents’ skills so they can safeguard themselves, their family and the community.

For more information, please contact the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department CERT Unit, 795 Woodlane Road, Westampton, 609-265-5103.