Full Notification

Are you prepared "when" a disaster happens, such as an earthquake, firestorm or house fire? Do you have a home emergency kit? Then consider attending one of our East County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academies in 2011.

What is CERT? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and the hazards that may impact the area they live. These "FREE" CERT lessons will train you in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training taught in the classroom and during drill exercises, CERT members will be better prepared to also assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following a disaster or other unexpected event when professional responders are not immediately available.

*An excellent program for those in a Neighborhood Watch Program.

*If you would like to be better prepared, here is the new East County CERT class schedule for 2011:

Academy – #1

January 29 – Disaster preparedness/CERT Organization

February 12 – Disaster Medical/ Triage

February 26 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue

March 12 - Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue hands on – at *HTF

March 26 – Disaster Psychology/Hazardous Materials/Terrorism

April 9 – All inclusive manipulative review & graduation – *At HTF and Graduation!

Academy #2

June 11 – Disaster preparedness/CERT Organization

June 25 – Disaster Medical/ Triage

July 9 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue

July 23 - Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue hands on – at *HTF

August 6 – Disaster Psychology/Hazardous Materials/Terrorism

August 20 – All inclusive manipulative review & graduation – *At HTF and Graduation!

Academy – #3

September 24 – Disaster preparedness/CERT Organization

October 8 – Disaster Medical/ Triage

October 22 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue

November 5 - Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue hands on – at *HTF

November 19 - Disaster Psychology/Hazardous Materials/Terrorism

December 3 – All inclusive manipulative review & graduation – *At HTF and Graduation!

*If you would like to register for one of these three academies please call (619) 441-1737. Please leave your name and best contact phone number. Check our fire website for more disaster preparedness information to prepare now! It's www.elcajonfire.com.

These classes are held on Saturday mornings from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Class location for “registered” CERT students is at the Fire Administration offices at 8054 Allison Avenue, in La Mesa. The HTF location is 1301 N. Marshall Avenue in El Cajon for the hands-on training.

*Classes are limited to 35 participants per academy, ages 16 and up. Please, for safety concerns, we ask you do not bring babies or children to these classes. Any classes missed may be made up during the following academy. Classes are taught by members of Heartland Fire & Rescue, and Santee Fire Departments.

Check with the San Diego Office of Emergency services for more CERT programs around the county.