Sign up now for classes that start in February

CERT TRAINING

by Eloy Gomez

safety/emergency coordinator

Can you imagine surviving a disaster like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with little or no help from first responders for days after the disaster?

The Leisure World Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) invites all residents to learn how to help themselves and others in the community during and after natural and man-made disasters.

The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster-response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergencypreparedness projects in their community.

Students must attend all dates below to become CERT certified.

The training will be held twice a week from Feb. 15-March 22 from 6-8 p.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 2.

The dates are as follows:

• Tuesdays, Feb. 15 and 22 and March 1, 8, 15 and 22

• Thursdays, Feb. 17 and 24 and March 3, 10 and 17 To register for training, contact Emergency and Safety Coordinator Eloy Gomez at (562) 431-6586, ext. 356.