The Volunteer Center of Morgan County and Morgan County Emergency Management Agency is offering CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) for Morgan County residents.
CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to:
- Manage utilities and put out small fires
- Treat the three medical killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock
- Provide basic medical aid,
- Search for and rescue victims safely,
- Organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.
SERT (Student Emergency Response Team) Training is a program that educates students 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, SERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or school following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. SERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. Teen SERT is being offered to Morgan County rising 7th and 8th grade students this summer. For additional information on how your child can get involved in this training, please contact Marsha Hill at 355-8628.