Office of Emergency Management Offering CERT Training Classes

By Joe Rios

CREATED Dec. 22, 2012

  • Print

  • Image by Springfield-Greene County OEM

Information from edited news release . . .

Tara Hammer, Coordinator of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program for the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management announced today the schedule of training classes for the first quarter of 2013.  One CERT class will be held at the Springfield Greene-County Public Safety Center on Saturday,  February 2nd and February 9th, from 9 am to 5 pm. Other classes have been scheduled to meet at Missouri State University on Tuesdays, March 19th, 26th, April 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd from 6 pm to 9 pm, and on Thursdays March 21st, April 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, May 2nd, at Missouri State University from 6 pm to  9 pm.
 
Hammer said, “Topics will include preparedness, fire suppression, terrorism awareness, disaster psychology, team organization, medical, triage, light search and rescue with a final exercise which brings all of the skills together.”  She continued, “The classes are free of charge and open to the public.”  Hammer said, “There were 17 CERT classes held in 2012 with 217 students who went thru the program.”  She also said, “This has become an incredibly popular program and seats for our CERT classes fill up rapidly, so early registration is encouraged.”  She noted, “CERT is a great way local citizens can get invaluable training and at the same time, help others in their community during times of need or disaster.”
 
CERT volunteers accounted for over 2,600 volunteer hours during 2012, providing support on many community events including the Missouri Hotel fire, Severe Weather Expo at the Mall, Ozarks Empire Fair, Boy Scout Camper-All, Battlefield Fire Open House and Fair Grove Heritage Days. In the past CERT members were deployed to assist during the Joplin tornado.
 
For information about enrolling in the CERT training program, contact Tara Hammer at 869-6040.