Orientation for Emergency Preparedness Training on Oct. 11

The following is a press release:

An Orientation for the second Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training will be held on Thursday, October 11th at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library.

The actual training sessions will be held on parts of three days over the last weekend in October. Many of the training sessions will be held in the Ehlers Community Room in the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library.

This second training program is different from the first training in that all the elements of training will be done within the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of October 26-28.

This class is for you! There is no cost for the training. Become trained to help  your family, friends, neighbors and the community as you actively assist Monroe’s Emergency Services during emergencies such as snow storms, floods or natural and man-made incidents.

Monroe Emergency Management Director (EMD) David York said that “It is anticipated that CERT volunteers will provide valuable assistance to our first responders since they will be  trained and ready to help Monroe Police, Fire, Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (VEMS) along with shelter personnel, as well as residents and neighbors when a disaster strikes."

Ernest Heidelberg, President of the Westport CERT and DEMHS-certified CERT Trainer will lead the sessions. Local instructors from the Town Police, Fire and EMS will assist in the training. Persons interested in being certified as CERT members need to be trained for a minimum of 20 hours.

CERT volunteers are trained in a variety of emergency skills such as disaster psychology, first aid, CPR and AED, fire safety, traffic control, hazardous materials awareness, emergency shelters, light search and rescue, disaster scenarios and terrorism.

Those interested in becoming a part of the team should contact CERT via e-mail at DYork@Monroect.org, or call  EMD York (203-650-8474) or Deputy EMD Captain Flick (203-261-3622) or visit www.Monroect.org/cert.aspx

The class is limited to 25 people. Participants must be 18 years or older.

The class begins in less than four weeks. Please register now!

Class Schedule: October 26-28, 2012- totaling twenty hours of training.

The full schedule can be found on www.Monroect.org/cert.aspx

Locations: Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monroe EMS Training Room at Chalk Hill School, Monroe Fire Station #2

Eligibility: 18 years or older

Cost: Free! No charge for training or materials

Sponsors: Town of Monroe Emergency Management, Monroe Police