20-Hour Basic Community Emergency Response Team Course

The New Lenox Police Department will be hosting a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) 20-hour Basic Course starting on Thursday September 29th 2011.  The Course is FREE to New Lenox residents and will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the New Lenox Police Department.  The Final Exercise and Graduation will be held on Saturday November 12th 2011 from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

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

CERT training will teach participants to:

1. Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.
2. Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate response.
3. Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster.
4. Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.
5. Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and   safety measures to extinguish a burning liquid.
6. Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating     shock.
7. Conduct triage under simulated conditions.
8. Perform head-to-toe assessments.
9. Select and set-up a treatment area.
10.  Employ basic treatments for various wounds.
11.  Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
12.   Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.

Those interested in registering for the CERT Course should contact Public Safety Division Chief Daniel Martin at the New Lenox Police Department (815) 462-6100 or dmartin@newlenox.net.