BEVERLY HILLS—Trainers for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program received the monthly Health and Safety Award from the Health and Safety Commission on Monday, January 25.

Canyon News received an email from Therese Kosterman, Public Information Manager for the City of Beverly Hills indicating a new series of six C.E.R.T. classes that are set to open to the community starting February 24.

The CERT program is designed to teach a person to help themselves, family and neighbors in a disaster situation. Training involves basic skills that are important when emergency services are not readily available. Emergency responders, emergency management personnel, and emergency trained volunteers provide training. Program material covers earthquakes, fires, terrorism, hazardous incidents and other general life-threatening situations.

This Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certified course does not require previous emergency knowledge for participation. CERT instructs individuals to prepare and respond to potential hazards following a disaster. Participants will learn to:

  • Recognize the potential hazards associated with a particular type of emergency and take the appropriate action.
  • Identify, organize and utilize available resources and people.
  • Treat for life-threatening condition through Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.).

Those who attend C.E.R.T classes will attend a total of seven modules, where the classes will include lectures, videos, slides, interactive participation and skills assessment. Those looking to become members of the program should be aware it involves a serious time commitment and only those participants who complete all training may graduate.

The following courses are set to begin on February 24:

2/24/16 Wednesday:

Introduction to Disaster (6pm-9pm)

2/27/16 Saturday:

Medical I/Medical II (8am-12pm)

3/02/16 Wednesday:

Terrorism/Active Shooter Training (6pm-9pm)

3/05/16 Saturday:

Disaster Psychology (8am-12pm)

3/09/16 Wednesday:

Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue (6pm-9pm)

3/12/16 Saturday:

Final Exercise (8am-12pm)

To obtain additional information about C.E.R.T. email CERT@beverlyhills.org or call (310) 281-2754.